Charles Messier probably discovered M109 = NGC 3992 = H IV-61 = h1030 in March or April 1781 and added a position by hand in his personal copy of the catalog. Méchain has been given credit for discovery of this object, but according to the SEDS page, his position corresponds well with NGC 3953, not NGC 3992. See http://www.astrobril.nl/FortinOther.html#M109

WH independently discovered NGC 3992 = H IV-61 on 12 Apr 1789 (sweep 919) and recorded "pB, cB Ncl with vF extended branches about 30° np to sf, 5 or 6' long, 3 or 4' br." He recorded it again on the next sweep as "cB, vL, Br Ncl with vF elongated branches 7 or 8' long"

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/24/84): fairly bright, large, elongated SW-NE, bright core, diffuse halo. A star is superimposed NW of the core.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/19/88): bright, large, elongated 5:3 SW-NE, at least 6.0'x3.5', broadly concentrated halo, large faint halo. A mag 13 star is superimposed on the halo 50" NNW of center. A mag 13 star is at the NE edge of the halo 3.4' from center. Located 5.1' NE of mag 9.3 SAO 28199 and 39' SE of mag 2.4 Gamma UMa. Forms a pair with UGC 6923 15' SSW.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/20/17): stunning showpiece barred spiral! The central bar extends 1.5' in length SW-NE and is highlighted by an extremely bright, rounder nucleus. Striking spiral arms wrap around the bar/nucleus forming an oval ring, with brighter "handles" at the ends of the bar. A pair of outer spiral arms, ~6'x4', extend west on the north side and east on the south side. A mag 13 star is superimposed [50" NNW of center].

Notes by Steve Gottlieb