ESO 377-012, 20' WSW, appeared faint, moderately large, elongated roughly 2:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.5'. This galaxy has a very unusual appearance as a mag 12.8 star is superimposed and the galaxy is a faint, elongated, low surface brightness haze to the south of the star.

John Herschel discovered NGC 3557 = h3319 on 21 Apr 1835 and noted "pB; S; R; bM." His position (2 observations) matches ESO 377-016.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/17/04 - Costa Rica): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, 2.5'x1.5'. Sharply concentrated with a prominent 40" core. With averted vision the diffuse outer halo extends to 3'x2' in size. A mag 10.5 star lies 3.3' SE. Brightest in a group (Klemola 18) including NGC 3564 7.7' E and NGC 3568 11.5' NE and part of the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb