William Herschel rediscovered NGC 3804 = H II-830 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 951) and recorded "pB, E. I saw it too late to describe it properly." CH's reduced position is within 2' of UGC 6640. He originally discovered this galaxy on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 920) and logged "cF, pS, just following a vS star." It was catalogued as III-773 and later as NGC 3794. There was probably just enough difference in position and description for both Herschel and Dreyer to assume the objects were different, but there is only one galaxy here. So, NGC 3804 = NGC 3794. The primary designation should be NGC 3794 (earlier discovery), but it is known as NGC 3804 because of the more accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/6/91): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 E-W, even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is at the WNW edge. Forms a wide pair with NGC 3780 13' WNW. Member of the NGC 3898 Group = LGG 250 (UMa NED2 Group).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb