Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 3730 = LM 2-445 in 1886 and logged "mag 15.6, 0.5' dia, lE 140°, glbM." There is nothing at this position, though a number of galaxies to the east are possibilities. In addition, Andrew Common, in his observation of NGC 3732, noted "a cluster of 3 similar ones 15' n." Dreyer assumed one of these was Leavenworth's NGC 3730 (mentioned in the NGC notes section).

The brightest and largest of the galaxies to the north of NGC 3732 is MCG -01-30-003 = PGC 35734, though this is not necessarily one of Common's "cluster of 3". This galaxy is 0.9 min of RA east of Leavenworth's position and 2' north. The RNGC likely misidentifies MCG -01-30-008 as NGC 3730. Another possibility is NGC 3730 refers to one of the trio of extremely faint galaxies that are situated ~6' northeast of MCG -01-03-003, though none would likely be described as large as 0.5' diameter. So, MCG -01-30-003 is the most plausible candidate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/5/97): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S, 0.8'x0.6', weak concentration to center but no well-defined core. Several fainter galaxies in field including the trio of NGC 3722, NGC 3724 and MCG -01-30-008 ~6' SE and a very faint pair of anonymous galaxies 4.5' NE and 7.0' NE. The NGC identification is very uncertain as Leavenworth's position is a very poor match.

600/800mm - 24" (3/9/13): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated ~30"x24". Sharply concentrated with a bright round core and a much fainter halo. Forms a close pair with MCG -01-30-004, an extremely faint edge-on just 0.8' SSW of center. This companion was only marginally glimpsed.

NGC 3730 is the brightest member of a group of galaxies USGC S171 at z = .021 (several with uncertain identifications) including MCG -01-30-005 (NGC 3722), -006, -007 (NGC 3724) and -008 roughly 6' SE. Another trio of faint galaxies (LEDA 156711, 156714 and 156715) is ~6' NE. Finally PGC 35727 (possibly NGC 3721) lies 7' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb