William Herschel discovered NGC 3380 = H II-360 = h755 on 11 Apr 1785 (sweep 396) and noted "F, pL, irregular.". John Herschel made 5 observations (first on sweep 57); once called it "faint" and twice calling it "bright". Another 4 observations were made a Birr Castle, though other than the elongation, no structural details were mentioned by any observer.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/22/95): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 ~N-S, 1.3'x0.8'. Gradually increases to a brighter core which rises suddenly to a quasi-stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star lies 2.1' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb