Lewis Swift discovered IC 4931 = Sw. XI-187, along with IC 4926, on 6 Jul 1897 and recorded "eeF; pS; R; 8m * f[ollows] 20s; f of 2 [with IC 4926]." Swift's RA is about 10 seconds too small (improved from his fourth discovery list from Lowe Observatory, which was also 3' too far south), but Howe measured an accurate position that was used in the IC.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/3/94): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 E-W, sharply concentrated with a small bright core and a stellar nucleus at moments. The fainter halo is roughly 1.2'x0.8'. Brightest in a trio with IC 4926 7.5' W and an anonymous galaxy 7.3' S. Located 4.4' W of mag 7.7 SAO 211734 = HDO 294 (8.1/8.9 at 1.0"). Brightest member in rich galaxy cluster AGC 3656.

600/800mm - 25" (10/15/17 - OzSky): bright, fairly large, oval 4:3 NW-SE, ~1.5'x1.2', strongly concentrated with a prominent core. A mag 12.1 star is 1.6' SE. Brightest cD galaxy in the core of AGC 3656 with 5 other members seen within 10'. Located 4.5' WNW of mag 7.8 HD 189396 and 7.7' NW of mag 7.7 HD 189387. IC 4926 lies 7.4' W.

LEDA 93979, located 3.7' S, appeared faint, small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, ~16"x12". A mag 13.3 star is barely off the SSW end.

LEDA 93980, located 7.4' S, appeared fairly faint, fairly small, roundish, 20" diameter, gradually brighter middle.

ESO 339-024, 13' N, appeared very faint, fairly small, ~4:1 NNW-SSE, ~30"x8", surprisingly low surface brightness. Colllinear with two mag 12/13 stars close east [0.6' and 1.3'].

ESO 339-025, 13' NW, appeared faint, fairly small, roundish. The view was significantly hampered by mag 8.3 HD 189469, which is attached to the southeast end!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb