John Herschel discovered NGC 3131 = h671 on 17 Mar 1831 (sweep 334) and recorded "pB; pmE; gbM; 40" l and 20" br. Found in looking for III. 65 by working list." His position and description matches UGC 5471. R.J. Mitchell, the observing assistant on LdR's 72" on 10 Jan 1856, suspected a knot in the preceding end.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/29/97): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 7:2 SW-NE, 2.0'x0.6', broad concentration. The major axis is bracketed by two mag 13.5 stars 1.7' SSE and 3.1' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb