Guillaume Bigourdan discovered NGC 3553 = Big 45 on 13 Mar 1885 and recorded "20" diam; forms a double nebula with GC 2320 [NGC 3552]." His position, though, matches[NGC 3552, as he assumed the galaxy 0.7' southwest (MCG +05-27-003 = PGC 1842970) was[NGC 3552. So, the positions in the NGC for[NGC 3552 and NGC 3553 actually apply to the same galaxy. Since Bigourdan clearly discovered MCG +05-27-003, Harold Corwin suggests it should be labeled NGC 3553. That places the numbering out of order in RA. See Corwin's notes.

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/24/84): very faint, extremely small. Located very close SW of NGC 3552 (44" between centers). The pair is just resolved at 220x. Located in the core of rich cluster AGC 1185. There is a faint star at the south edge -- perhaps I noticed the star instead of the galaxy?

Notes by Steve Gottlieb