Pierre Méchain discovered M98 = NGC 4192 = h1132 on 15 Mar 1781. Messier made a confirmation a month later. William Herschel observed M98 on 30 Dec 1783 (sweep 73) and recorded "A large, extended, fine nebula. It seems to be M98, but from the description in Connoissance des Temps it appears that Mechain has not seen the whole of it, for its feeble branches extend about 1/4°, of which no notice is taken. Near the middle of it a few stars are visible and more suspected; my field will not quite take it in." John Herschel recorded M98 on 4 sweeps, first describing it on 3 Apr 1826 as "B; vmE; a ray pos 70° sf to np; mbM almost to nucleus; 10' long."

Based on a photograph with the Crossley reflector, Heber Curtis (1918) described M98 as "An open, elongated spiral 8'x2' in p.a. 150°. Bright stellar nucleus; numerous almost stellar condensations. Absorption effects on east side"

300/350mm - 13" (4/29/84): bright, large, very elongated, small bright nucleus, impressive.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/86): bright, very large, very elongated 4:1 NNW-SSE, 6'x1.5', small bright core, stellar nucleus. A faint knot was highly suspected near the south tip. NGC 4186 lies 11' SSE. Located 32' W of 6 Comae Berenices (V = 5.1).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb