Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 3138 = LM 2-420 and noted "mag 16.0, 0.1', R, 1st of 2 [with NGC 3139]." His rough position (nearest min of RA) is just 6 sec of RA east of MCG -02-26-032. Not found by Bigourdan.

400/500mm - 18" (4/14/12): at 225x appeared extremely faint, very small, slightly elongated, 15" diameter. Required averted vision to just momentarily pop occasionally but held for a few seconds a couple of times. I did not notice an elongated shape, so probably just viewed the core though the object was well past the meridian. Located 6.4' SW of mag 7.4 HD 88135, 13' NW of i 6.2 HD 88182 and 30' NW of mag 3.6 Lambda Hyd.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb