Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2785 = St XIII-45 on 16 Mar 1884 and described "quite small, irregularly oval; elongated ESE-WNW; two very distinct points of condensation." His position matches UGC 4876.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/6/02): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, 1.3'x0.5'. Exhibits a weak, broad concentration and fades at the tips. A mag 14.5 star is close NNE [0.8' from center].

Notes by Steve Gottlieb