William Herschel discovered NGC 3656 = H II-782 = h874 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 920) and recorded "pB, S, R, vgmbM, just following a small star." JH logged "pB; R; vglbM; 20"; a * 12m preceding." and measured a very accurate position.

400/500mm - 18" (5/30/03): moderately bright, round, fairly small, 0.8' diameter, fairly weak concentration with a brighter core. A mag 12 star is just off the west side, 45" from center.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/6/13): bright, moderately large, irregularly round, ~1.3'x1.0', large very bright core but no distinct nucleus. A mag 12.7 star is just off the west edge of a large, diffuse halo. A dust lane or absorption patch is evident on the north side as a region of lower surface brightness.

MCG +09-19-64, a merging companion, is attached at the southern edge of the halo [40" S of center]. It appeared faint, fairly small, low surface brightness, slightly elongated E-W, 20"x15". PGC 2452556, 2.3' ENE, was a fairly faint, fairly small, roundish glow, 15" diameter, with a brighter core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb