William Herschel discovered NGC 3898 = H I-228 = h985 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 920) and recorded "cB, vB irr Ncl with F branches, 1 1/2' l, 3/4' br." JH made 4 observation calling it (sweep 345) "B; pL; R; psmbM; 60"."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/19/88): bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 WNW-ESE, very bright core, stellar nucleus. NGC 3888 lies 15' SW. Brightest in the NGC 3898 Group = LGG 250 (also UMa NED2 Group).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb