William Herschel discovered NGC 3821 = H III-376 = h949 on 26 Apr 1785 (sweep 402) and noted "suspected, vF, vS. I am pretty sure of it; but twilight is too strong." There is nothing at his position, but 18 sec of RA west is UGC 6663 (only nearby galaxy). JH made two observations, recording on sweep 246 "vF; S; R; psbM; a * 11m precedes 10s."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/88): fairly faint, very small, round, very small bright core. A mag 14 star is at the SW edge and a mag 10 star lies 2.9' W. Member of AGC 1367 cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb