William Herschel discovered NGC 3837 = H III-377 = h961 on 26 Apr 1785 (sweep 402) and recorded "two [with III-378 = NGC 3842], the time and NPD is that of the most north NGC 3842], which is the largest and brightest; and is vF, pS. The most south [NGC 3837] eF; vS, but twilight is too strong to determine them properly." His position is 10 sec of RA preceding NGC 3842. JH made two observations, measured an accurate position, and assumed he had discovered h961. Dreyer concludes in the his revision of WH's catalogues that h961 = H III-377 = NGC 3837.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/25/84): faint, small, round. Second brightest in the core of the cluster.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/20/88): faint, small, slightly elongated, brighter core. This is the second brightest galaxy in the core of the galaxy cluster AGC 1367 and lies 3.6' SSW of NGC 3842 (brightest in the core). UGC 6697, the third brightest galaxy, lies 4.7' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb