Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 3889 on 13 Mar 1852. While observing NGC 3888 he noted "another F, S, 5' nf." The faint galaxy MCG +09-19-191 is situated 3.7' northeast of NGC 3888 and is a reasonable candidate in position and brightness. But a second observation by Lawrence Parsons on 1 Apr 1878 confused the situation as he logged "Nova, vF, vS, Pos 167.2 deg (SSE), Dist 340.5"." This placed the nebula southeast of NGC 3888 instead of northeast. In compiling the NGC, Dreyer was swayed by the second observation and placed NGC 3889 just 2 seconds of RA following NGC 3888 and 5.6' south and there is nothing at Parsons' position.

In an attempt to identify NGC 3889, the RNGC assigns it the same coordinates and new description as NGC 3850 which is located 17' WSW of NGC 3888! Listed in my RNGC Corrections #1, WSQJ January 1985. See Harold Corwin's identification notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/19/88): very faint, very small, elongated WNW-ESE. Located 3.7' NE of NGC 3888.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb