Ralph Copeland discovered NGC 3753, while an assistant at Birr Castle, on 9 Feb 1874 and noted "pF, star in PA 5.5°, Dist 71.7"." This galaxy was labeled Eta in the constructed sketch of 13 Apr 1876. Copeland found this group while searching in vain for d'Arrest's GC 2464 = NGC 3760, which he assumed was in the general location. But d'Arrest had made a 1-hour error in RA, so his object was not to be found and the Septet happened to be just west of d'Arrest's erroneous position.

Due to a mixup in the reference star, though, Dreyer's computed positions for Copeland's Septet were offset 1.5 min of RA too far west and 16' too far south. The error was caught by Hermann Kobold while observing with the 19-inch Merz refractor at the Strasbourg Observatory in 1894 (see AN 3241). Dreyer acknowledged the correction in AN 3246 and the correction was given in the IC 1 Notes section. Still, the RNGC did not catch the correction and listed the entire Septet as nonexistent! See RNGC Corrections #2 and Deep Sky 1983. The nickname "Copeland Septet" appears in the RC2 notes section.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/96): the brightest member of Copeland's Septet appears very faint, very small, slightly elongated NW-SE. Closely bracketed by NGC 3750 40" SW and virtually in contact with NGC 3754 just 20" NE of center. A mag 12 star lies 1.3' N.

17.5" (3/19/88): this galaxy is the brightest member of Copeland's Septet. Very faint, fairly small, elongated WNW-ESE, bright core. This is the central galaxy in a very tight trio with NGC 3750 39" SW and NGC 3754 22" NE of center. Other members include NGC 3745 3.2' NW, NGC 3746 2.9' NW and NGC 3748 2.9' NNW.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/16/15): moderately to fairly bright, elongated 3:1 WNW-ESE, 45"x15", contains a small bright core. Tightly paired with NGC 3754 21" NE of center and NGC 3750 40" SW. A mag 12 star is 1.3' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb