William Herschel discovered NGC 3872 = H II-104 = h973 on 8 Apr 1784 (sweep 187) and recorded "pB, R, vS, cometic (or rather close resolvable). The kind of nucleus visible is pretty large and seems not to consist of a single star or point, but looks as if it were resolvable." JH made three observations, describing it on sweep 242 as "B; R: vsmbM, to a * 11m; 40"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (1/23/88): fairly bright, fairly small, round, sharply concentrated with a very small bright core. Located 1° SW of Denebola = Beta Leonis (V = 2.1).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb