George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistant, discovered NGC 3187 in January 1850. This object was found while observing NGC 3190 and 3193, and labeled Gamma on the sketch. The description mentioned " NGC 3190] and [NGC 3187] proibably connected. In [NGC 3187], several minute stars seen by Lord R." A sketch made by R.J. Mitchell (in the 1861 publication) shows the galaxy tapering at the southeast end and broader at the northwest end.

200/250mm - 8" (4/24/82): not seen.

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/24/84) very faint, elongated NW-SE. Located 5' NW NGC 3190. A mag 8 star 6' NNE detracts.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): faint, small, edge-on NW-SE. A mag 14 star is off the SW side 1.1' from center and a similar star is 1.3' SSE. Unusual as the major axis is exactly collinear with the brighter edge-on NGC 3190 4.9' SE. Located 6.3' SSW of mag 7.8 SAO 81276 and 8.8' WSW of NGC 3193.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/1/11): moderately bright, elongated 3:1 NW-SE, 1.8'x0.6', weak concentration with no well defined core. At both the NW and SE ends of the bar are faint spiral arms. The arm at the NW end bends sharply towards the south in the direction of a mag 13.8 star 1.0' SW of center, though doesn't reach this star. On the SW end of the bar a second faint arm hooks at a right angle to the NE. Both arms extend ~45" and give the galaxy a distinctive zig-zag shape. Located on a line 4.9' NW of the showpiece edge-on NGC 3190.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb