William Herschel discovered NGC 3348 = H I-80 = h738 on 3 Apr 1785 (sweep 390) and noted "cB, S, irregularly elliptical." On 4 Nov 1831 (sweep 383), John Herschel noted, "B; R; psbM; 40"; has a * 11m pos 22.8°, Delta RA = 20 seconds." Sherburne Burnham measured the separation of the star and the nebula as 22" in 1910. Karl Reinmuth called this was a double galaxy (based on Heidelberg plates).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/92): moderately bright but small, 1' diameter, slightly elongated E-W. Unusual appearance because at first glance there appears to be a double nucleus. Instead a mag 13.5 star is superimposed at the east side of the halo. The core of the galaxy is close west and a small halo surrounds the star with averted vision. Using direct vision the star is slightly brighter than the core. A mag 11 star lies 1.7' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb