William Herschel discovered NGC 545 = H II-448, along with NGC 547, on 1 Oct 1785 (sweep 448) and recorded both as "Two, stellar of equal size and within 1' of each other. Their nebulosities run together and at first sight seem to form only one extended nebula." These galaxies form a double system and are the brightest members of AGC 194.

RNGC misidentifies the double system NGC 545/547 as NGC 547/547A. MCG calls the double galaxy NGC 547a NGC 547b. RNGC and MCG both misidentify MCG +00-04-140 as NGC 545. See RNGC Corrections #1 and the Webb Society Observer's Handbook, Volume 5.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): moderately bright, round, bright core. Preceding of a double system with NGC 547 0.5' SE.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): NGC 545 is the brightest member of AGC 194. It appeared moderately bright, small, round, small bright core. Forms a double system with NGC 547 in a common envelope.

CGCG 385-129, located 2.5' NW of NGC 545, is extremely faint and small, round. It forms the eastern vertex of an equilateral triangle with a pair of mag 13 stars 45" SW and NW. RNGC and MCG misidentify CGCG 385-129 as NGC 545. CGCG 385-127, located 3' W of NGC 545 is extremely faint and small, almost round.

900/1200mm - 48" (10/22/11): very bright, large, oval 2:1 SW-NE, 1.4'x0.7', well concentrated with a large bright core and fainter halo that merges with NGC 547 on the southeast side.

CGCG 385-129, situated 2.5' NW of NGC 545, is moderately bright, small, elongated 3:2 , 0.4'x0.3' WNW-ESE, small bright core. CGCG 385-127, located 3' due west of NGC 545, appeared moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SSW-NNE, 0.4'x0.3', contains a small bright core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb