John Herschel discovered NGC 3203 = h3240 on 24 Mar 1835 and recorded "pB; E; gbM; 25"." His RA was 1.0 minute too small. But he measured an accurate RA on the next sweep (563). Unfortunately he rejected the second (accurate) RA, so the position in the NGC is in error. Clearly his observations, though, refer to ESO 500-024. Jermain Porter measured an accurate micrometric position in 1907, using the 16-inch Clark refractor at the Cincinnati Observatory, though he called this object a "nova".

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/87): moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated SW-NE, very small bright core is possibly stellar, very thin extensions.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb