John Herschel discovered NGC 3383 = h3297 on 20 Mar 1835 and noted "F; pL; irreg R; glbM; 40"; moonlight." He also recorded it on the next sweep and his mean position matches ESO 501-097 = PGC 32224.

400/500mm - 18" (3/17/07): fairly faint/moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, 1.0'x0.9', weak concentration. A mag 15-15.5 star is at the SW edge of the halo. Located 7' NNE of mag 8 HD 93474.

18" (3/13/04): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 ~N-S, 1.0'x0.8'. Low, even surface brightness with just a weak concentration. Observation made through thin clouds.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb