William Herschel discovered NGC 3655 = H I-5 = h873 on 30 Dec 1783 (early sweep 71) and recorded "A nebula. F, not of the cometic kind, but seem to be resolvable. It is of a roundish shape, but not regular." JH made three observations and measured an accurate position.

200/250mm - 8" (4/24/82): fairly bright, bright core, slightly elongated. Located 45' WNW of a mag 6 star.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/15/93): fairly bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, prominent core, stellar nucleus, fainter extensions, high surface brightness. A mag 12.5 star is 2.5' ENE.

600/800mm - 24" (5/27/17): at 200x; bright, large, oval 4:3 SSW-NNE, very well concentrated with a relatively large bright core and an intensely bright small nucleus. Member of a group (LGG 237) that includes NGC 3681, 3684 and 3686.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb