Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 543 on 31 Oct 1864, while measuring positions for other members of AGC 194 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. His single micrometric position is just off the south edge of CGCG 385-130 = PGC 5311.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): very faint, very small.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): faint, small, very elongated ~E-W. Located 4.5' NW of NGC 545/NGC 547 duo in the core of AGC 194.

900/1200mm - 48" (10/22/11): fairly bright/bright, fairly small, elongated 3:1 E-W, 0.6'x0.2', contains a small bright core. MCG +00-04-140 lies 1.5' SSE. In a string of galaxies oriented SSW-NNE in AGC 194 with NGC 545/547 4' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb