William Herschel discovered NGC 3356 = H III-107 = h744 on 17 Apr 1784 (sweep 196) and recorded "A suspected, eF, pL. Too much daylight remaining to verify it; but I do much doubt it." There is nothing near his position he might have picked up. But on 12 Apr 1801 (sweep 1098), his position is just 2' northeast of UGC 5852. On 27 Dec 1827 (sweep 117), John Herschel wrote, "eF; R; bM; 30"; a * 9m south dist 2' or 3'."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/9/94): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE. A mag 11 star is 2.9' S. Forms a pair with NGC 3349 5.3' W. NGC 3362 lies 13.8' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb