John Herschel discovered NGC 3318 = h3285 on 2 Mar 1835 and noted "vF; pL; pmE; gvlbM; 2'." His mean position (2 observations) matches ESO 317-052.

400/500mm - 18" (2/19/09): faint, fairly small, irregularly round, 30" (probably the core only due to the low elevation), very weak concentration. A very faint star or stellar nucleus was glimpsed. Located 18' S of mag 7.0 HD 92057.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb