Ainslie Common discovered NGC 3143 in 1880 with the 36-inch f/5.9 reflector at Ealing, UK. He noted "S, F, just S of GC 2023 [NGC 3145]. Herbert Howe's corrected position in the IC 2 notes matches MCG -02-26-033, which is located 9' south of[NGC 3145.

400/500mm - 18" (4/10/04): very faint, very small, irregularly round, 25"x20", weak concentration. Can just hold steadily. Fors the vertex of an obtuse isosceles triangle with two mag 11.5 stars 5.7' N and a similar distance SE. Also situated 9' S of NGC 3145 and nearly midway between mag 5.3 SAO 155780 14' S and mag 3.6 Lambda Lydrae 15' NNE!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb