John Herschel discovered NGC 7130 = h3890 on 25 Sep 1834 and recorded "pB; R; glbM; 20"." There is nothing near his position, but exactly 30' south is ESO 403-032. Lewis Swift independently discovered the galaxy again on 17 Sep 1897 and described Sw. XI-208 (later IC 5135) as "vF; pL; R; sp of 2 [with XI-209]; not 7130 or 7135." His position is 4.5' too far southwest, close enough that Howe was able to find it in 1898-99 and measure an accurate position (used in the IC 2). Swift's XI-209 ("3 B st form a triangle; nf of 2") is clearly NGC 7135.

300/350mm - 13" (8/5/83): faint, small, round, NGC 7135 in field 19' ENE.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/6/97): moderately bright, moderately large, round, ~1.5' diameter. Well concentrated with a prominent core and much fainter halo. NGC 7135 lies 19' ENE.

17.5" (7/16/93): moderately bright, moderately large, slightly elongated ~N-S, large bright core. Appears to have a knot or star superimposed at the north edge. Second of three with NGC 7135 19' ENE and IC 5131 11' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb