Frank Muller discovered NGC 589 = LM 2-309 in 1886 with the 26" Clark refractor of the Leander McCormick Observatory. His position is 50 sec of RA west of MCG -02-05-004 = PGC 5758. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1897 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/26/92): faint, very small, round, small brighter core, very faint stellar nucleus. A mag 12 star is 2.3' SW. In a trio with NGC 599 10' SSE and NGC 593.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb