William Herschel discovered NGC 4008 = H II-368 = h1038 on 11 Apr 1785 (sweep 396) and noted "pF, bM." JH made 4 observations and measured an accurate position. A total of 7 observations were made at Birr Castle.

200/250mm - 8" (4/24/82): faint, round, bright core.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/9/99): moderately bright, very elongated ~N-S with a prominent core., 1.4'x0.5'. The extensions nearly reach an extremely faint mag 15.5 star at the north edge. Initially I thought this galaxy was NGC 4004 which is located 20' SSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb