William Herschel discovered NGC 3897 = H II-408 = h986 on 28 Apr 1785 (sweep 404) and noted "vF, vS, R." CH's reduction is NGC 3897 is 12 sec of RA west of UGC 6784. JH made three observations and called this galaxy either "pF" or "F".

400/500mm - 18" (4/5/03): faint, fairly small, round, 0.7' diameter, weak concentration to center but no core. A mag 13.5 star lies 2.5' NW. Located 10' NW of mag 5.7 SAO 62718.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb