John Herschel discovered NGC 3597 = h3333 on 21 Mar 1835 and recorded "vF; R; bM; much diluted at the borders, 30"." His position matches ESO 503-003 = PGC 34266.

400/500mm - 18" (3/19/04): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter. Moderate even concentration to a very small bright core and stellar nucleus. A pair of mag 13 stars lie less than 2' NE of center. Located 5' SSW of mag 9.1 HD 97783.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb