Pierre Méchain discovered M85 = NGC 4382 = h1242 on 4 Mar 1781. William Herschel made an observation on 14 Mar 1784 (sweep 170) and recorded "Two resolvable nebulae; the preceding is the largest and with 157 seems to have another small nebula joining to it [NGC 4394], but with 240 it appears to be a star." John Herschel recorded on 23 Mar 1827 (sweep 61), "vB; R; bM; 2' diam; has a * 80° np dist 30" from edge."

Based on a photograph taken with the Crossley reflector, Heber Curtis called it a "Very bright oval, 4'x2'; very slight traces of spiral structure."

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/23/87): very bright, moderately large, small very bright core. A mag 13 star is superimposed near the NNE edge and a mag 10 star is off the SE side 2.7' from center. Forms a pair with NGC 4394 7.6' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb