John Herschel discovered NGC 3241 = h3249 on 16 Feb 1836 and logged "F pmE glbM; has a *11m north preceding." His position is 1' N of ESO 436-016 and the description matches.

400/500mm - 18" (4/10/04): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 1.3'x1.0'. Weak concentration with no distinguishable core. A mag 11 star is close off the NW edge, 1.4' from center and the galaxy is elongated in the direction of the star. Scattered groups of mag 10 stars lie ~20' E and a similar distance west. Outlying member of the Antlia cluster (ACO S636).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb