John Herschel discovered NGC 3168 = h683 on 25 Mar 1832 (sweep 406) and recorded "F; psbM; like a star rubbed out. A * 7-8m in field np - dist 5'." His position matches UGC 5536, although the bright star is south-southwest.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/88): fairly faint, very small, round, small bright core. Located 5.6' NE of mag 6.8 SAO 15131. Brightest of a trio with UGC 5542 4.8' NE (noted as "faint, very small, round, small bright core") and CGCG 290-021 5' NNW (noted as "faint, very small, round. Two mag 9.5/10 stars are near").

Notes by Steve Gottlieb