Forms a pair with MCG +04-25-004 4.7' ENE (noted as "very faint, very small, round. A mag 14.5 star is 1.2' NNE"). Brightest in a trio with UGC 5588 9.4' SSE (noted as "fairly faint, small, round, 30" diameter, weak concentration. Forms a small isosceles triangle with two mag 12 stars 1.0' SSW and 1.2' E of center. High surface brightness for a UGC galaxy").

John Herschel discovered NGC 3209 = h701 on 19 Feb 1827 (sweep 58) and recorded "F; R; 30"; has a star." His position matches UGC 5584.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/25/95): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter. Sharp concentration with a very small prominent core and stellar nucleus. A mag 11 star is 3.0' W of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb