Frank Muller discovered NGC 344 = LM 2-298, along with NGC 343, in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory.. Muller described both objects as possible stars and his position is 0.3 min of RA east and 1.5' north of ESO 475-006. Corwin suggests that NGC 343 and NGC 344 may instead refer to a faint pair of galaxies (Arp-Madore 0055-232 = PGC 13374/198261) about 2.5 min of RA due east of Muller's position. If Muller observed this pair, then NGC 344 (fainter SE component) at B = 17.2 is the faintest discovery at Leander McCormick Observatory with the Clark refractor.

400/500mm - 18" (12/3/05): extremely faint and small, 5" diameter. Forms a very close pair with NGC 343 close preceding, just 24" between centers. At times this object appeared stellar and easier to view than NGC 343, though there doesn't appear to be a faint star close by that I might have confused it with.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb