John Herschel discovered NGC 3289 = h3272 on 20 Apr 1835 and noted "eF: R; 15"." His position is 1.6' north of ESO 375-065.

Pietro Baracchi observed the galaxy on a couple of occasions in 1886 with the 48" Melbourne telescope and wrote, "It is pF, S, R, gbM, a little mottled. Once star 16m precedes nebula by 5s and in the same declination. Also a star 13mag precedes nebula by 3s and is 40" south of it. Another minute star 16m follows neb by 2s and is 20" north of it - this star, the nebula and the star 13 mag are in a straight line, bearing about 40°."

400/500mm - 18" (3/17/07): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NNW-SSE, 0.9'x0.3', weak concentration. A mag 12 star is off the SW side, 50" from the center and two mag 14.5 stars flank the galaxy on the NNW end. Member of the Antlia Cluster (ACO S636) and situated at the eastern end of the cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb