R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 3461 on 27 Mar 1854 using LdR's 72" and recorded "A small neb [NGC 3461] north of a bright one [NGC 3460]. distance about 5' or 6'." On 4 Apr 1878, Dreyer also logged this faint galaxy, "..I found a neb [NGC 3457 =[NGC 3460] pB, pL, R, gbM with a vF, diffused nebula [NGC 3461] in position 17°, distance 326". At this offset is PGC 32793. Although Mitchell's observation is in the 1861 publication, there was no offsets to compute a position and it was not included in the GC or GC Supplement.

NGC 3461 is not included in the CGCG, MCG or RC3. RNGC misidentifies LEDA 1537008, an extremely faint galaxy very close to 3 stars (IC 656), as NGC 3461.

600/800mm - 24" (2/22/14): very faint, very small, round, 12" diameter. Can just hold steadily with averted vision at 260x. Located 5.4' NNE of NGC 3457 = NGC 3460.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb