William Herschel discovered NGC 3177 = H III-25 = h687 on 12 Mar 1784 (sweep 166) and noted "vF, S." Caroline's reduced position is 43 sec of RA preceding UGC 5544.
400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): fairly faint, small, increases to a brighter core, stellar nucleus, small faint halo. Member of the NGC 3190 group.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb