William Herschel discovered NGC 3653 = H III-336 = h872, along with NGC 3651, on 10 Apr 1785 (sweep 394) and recorded "Two, both vF and vS. The most south [NGC 3653] is the faintest. I saw them both very well with 240. About 2 or 3' from each other." JH noted "vF; the sf of 2." His position is 45" too far southeast.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/96): faint, small, slightly elongated E-W, 30" diameter, stellar nucleus. Second brightest in HCG 51 quintet with brightest member NGC 3651 1.4' NW.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/18/15): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 ~E-W, 0.6'x0.4', sharply concentrated with a very small bright core. NGC 3653 is the second brightest member of HCG 51 with slightly brighter NGC 3651 (and companions) 1.5' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb