Herbert Howe discovered IC 4708 = Ho III-21 on 11 Sep 1899 with the 20-inch refractor at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver. He noted "eF, eS, v diff.' near [NGC] 6617." His micrometric position is very accurate.

600/800mm - 24" (7/19/12): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, ~18"x15". A mag 13 star lies 36" W. Located on the SE side of a group of 8 NGC galaxies (all B mag 15.2 or fainter) discovered by Swift.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb