William Herschel discovered NGC 3471 = H III-972 on 28 Nov 1801 (sweep 1102) and recorded "vF, vS, R, bM." His position is 4' north of UGC 6064 = PGC 33074, the only nearby galaxy.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/19/88): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 ~N-S, broad concentration, faint elongated halo. Located 35' WSW of Alpha Ursa Majoris.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb