William Herschel discovered NGC 3888 = H II-785 = h978 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 920) and noted "pB, S, lE." His RA is 30 tsec too small. JH made two observations and measured an accurate position (used in the NGC).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/19/88): moderately bright, moderately large, oval WNW-ESE, bright core. A mag 12.5 star is 1' W. There are five fairly bright mag 9-10 stars to the NE and NW (including mag 8.8 SAO 28139 and mag 9.2 SAO 28134) arranged in two parallel strings. Third of five in the NGC 3898 group with NGC 3889 3.7' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb