John Herschel discovered NGC 3136 = h3229 = h3231 on 30 Jan 1835 and noted "B; R; bM; place only a very rude approximation." In an errata list and the end of the Cape Catalogue, JH corrected the NPD by 2° so it nearly matches h3231, whose position was accurately measured twice and matches ESO 092-008. Joseph Turner sketched this galaxy on 1 Mar 1878 with the 48" Melbourne Telescope and estimated the size as only 20" and brighter in the miiddle to a nucleus.

400/500mm - 18" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 171x this Carina galaxy appeared moderately bright and large, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 1.5'x0.75'. Sharply concentrated with a small, bright, roundish core increasing to an occasional stellar nucleus. A mag 13 star is close north.

600/800mm - 24" (4/4/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x; bright, moderately large, eloongated 3:2 SW-NE. Sharp concentration with a small, intense core that brightens to the center. The fainter extensions from the core appear irregular. IC 2554 and IC 2554B, a striking interacting pair of galaxies, is 28' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb