Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 3140 = LM 1-167 (along with I-166 = NGC 3140) on 1 Jan 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander-McCormick Observatory. Although he gave a single rough position for both objects, LM 1-166 is mag 15.5 and 0.5', while LM 1-167 is mag 16.0 and 0.3' dia. His position falls very close to the pair PGC 29548 and PGC 29544 (separation 2.5' SW to NE).

Based on the discovery sketch (examined by Harold Corwin), Dreyer incorrectly assumed that the brighter galaxy to the northeast was NGC 3140 and added "first of two" (listed first in the discovery paper) so the order of RA was reversed in the NGC. The RNGC erroneously states NGC 3141 = NGC 3140. See Corwin's identification summaries for more.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/22/03): smaller and slightly fainter of a pair of galaxies with NGC 3140 2.4' NE. Very faint, small, slightly elongated 0.4'x0.3', faint stellar nucleus. Incorrectly equated with NGC 3140 in the RNGC.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb