William Herschel discovered NGC 3226 = H II-28 on 15 Feb 1784 (sweep 146) and recorded "Two nebula almost close together. Perhaps 1 1/2 or 2' asunder, they are pretty considerable in size and of a roundish form; but not cometic; they are vF." His position was 17' too far north, but d'Arrest and Schultz measured accurate positions used in the GC and NGC.

Father Secchi found NGC 3226 and 3227 on 6 Mar 1853 with the 9.5" Merz refractor and announced the pair as new in Astronomische Nachrichten 36, p. 243 (1853). He mentioned the nebulae were "not listed in Herschel's Observations of nebulae and clusters of stars [Slough catalogue]." Like a number of observers, Secchi missed the prior discovery as he only checked the Slough catalogue or was misled by Herschel's poor positions. In 1855, d'Arrest reported these nebulae were discovered previously.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/16/83): fairly faint, broad concentration to a brighter middle.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/92): moderately bright and large, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, smoothly increases from halo to a bright core and an almost stellar nucleus. The halo extends to almost 2' diameter with averted vision and fades into background. Forms a striking pair with NGC 3227 at the south side with 2.3' separation between centers. The outer halo is just in contact with NGC 3227 at the SSE edge. NGC 3222 lies 13' W.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/22/17): at 375x and 488x; very bright, moderately large, slightly elongated, ~1.8'x 1.5'. Sharply concentrated with an intensely bright non-stellar nucleus. The halo has only a weak concentration and with averted vision appears to merge with the halo of NGC 3227. A low surface brightness spiral arm on the west side of NGC 3227 extends north to the outer halo of NGC 3226.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb