Frank Muller discovered NGC 343 = LM 2-297, along with NGC 344, in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. This nebula was placed 1' N of NGC 344 but there is nothing at Muller's position. Corwin suggests NGC 343 NGC 344 are the faint pair of galaxies AM 0055-232 = PGC 133741/PGC 198261, located 2.5 min of RA following Muller's position, but matching in declination. As the Leander McCormick positions are often well off in RA (but generally good in dec), this candidate is reasonable, though uncertain. ESO and RNGC apply NGC 343 to a single star 1' N of ESO 475-006 and ESO 475-006 is misidentified as NGC 344 in ESO and RNGC.

400/500mm - 18" (12/3/05): extremely faint, very small, ~12" diameter. Appears as a very low surface brightness spot with averted vision located 2' W of a 1.2' pair of mag 14 stars. Forms a very close pair with NGC 344. Uncertain historical identification due to a poor position at Leander McCormick observatory.

18" (11/6/04): extremely faint, small, round, very low surface brightness. Situated 2' W of a N-S pair of mag 14 stars. A mag 15 star is 1' N. NGC 344 close SE was not seen. The identification of this pair is uncertain.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb