William Herschel discovered NGC 3833 = H III-102 on 15 Apr 1784 (sweep 194) and noted "eF, pL." CH's reduction is 3' south of UGC 6692. Neither JH nor d'Arrest made an observation. Rudolph Spitaler measured an accurate micrometric position in 1892 using the 27" refractor at Vienna.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/87): very faint, fairly small, very diffuse, elongated SSW-NNE. A very faint mag 15.5 star is off the SW end 0.9' from center. Forms a pair with MCG +02-30-023 = PGC 36456 6' NNE. The companion (identified as NGC 3848 in the RNGC and PGC) appeared very faint, very small, round, low even surface brightness. Member of the NGC 3817-3869 group (USGC U412) near the Leo-Virgo border, which includes HCG 58.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb