William Herschel discovered NGC 3156 = H III-255 = h680 on 13 Dec 1784 (sweep 342) and noted "vF, vS, preceding a triangle of bright stars." On 10 Apr 1828 (sweep 143) John Herschel called the galaxy, "pB; S; R: psbM; 15"."

300/350mm - 13" (4/16/83): faint, small, elongated.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): moderately bright, small, small bright core. A triangle of bright stars follows; mag 9.0 SAO 118165 2.4' SE, mag 8.3 SAO 118168 5' ENE and mag 7.6 SAO 118169 9' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb