William Herschel discovered NGC 3659 = H II-53 = h878 on 14 Mar 1784 (sweep 170) and noted "F, S, r." JH measured an accurate position.
300/350mm - 13.1" (4/10/86): fairly faint, fairly small, weak concentration, elongated WSW-ENE. Member of the LGG 237 group.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb