Albert Marth discovered NGC 3419 = m 208 = T. I-27 on 1 Apr 1864 and recorded "F, vS, R, alm stell, close to a small star." Wilhelm Tempel independently discovered the galaxy on 15 Mar 1876 and noted in his first discovery list, "F, S, class III, forms an obtuse triangle with the stars." A micrometric position was published in list V-7. The NGC position matches UGC 5964.

The original discovery, though, was made by William Herschel on 14 Jan 1787 (sweep 691) and noted as "vF, vS, most likely a small patch." His position (CH's reduction) is 2.7' southwest of the galaxy. As the observation was uncertain, it was never published and he was not credited in the NGC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/9/94): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter, brighter core. Forms the southwest vertex of a triangle with two mag 14 stars 1.5' N and 1.3' ESE.

600/800mm - 28" (4/12/18): at 285x; moderately bright, fairly small, ~40 diameter, very sharp bright stellar nucleus. A fainter star is superimposed on the east side of the halo [9" NE of the stellar nucleus]. Brightest in a trio (USGC U327 at z = .01) with NGC 3419A and NGC 3391.

NGC 3419A = UGC 5965, located 4.6' N, appeared faint, extremely thin edge-on, at least 6:1 NW-SE, ~60"x10". Contains a slightly brighter core (very elongated) with low surface brightness extensions using averted vision. A mag 11.7 star is 1.6' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb