R.J. Mitchell, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 4016 at Birr Castle on 30 Mar 1854 and noted "another vF neb about 5' np or nearly north [of NGC 4017]." At this offset is UGC 6954. The following April this galaxy was also noted as "np NGC 4017] is another F, R neb with stellar centre." The CGCG confuses the identifications of NGC 4016 and 4017.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/9/99): faint, fairly small, elongated ~ E-W, 0.8'x0.5', no noticeable concentration. A mag 12 star lies 1.3' S of center. First and fainter of pair with NGC 4017 6' SE.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/20/17): at 488x; moderately bright and large, slightly elongated but irregular shape. Contains a brighter elongated bar through the center oriented ~E-W with a slightly brighter, very small nucleus. The halo changed shape and size with averted version so I was probably picking up part of the spiral arms that extend north on the west side and south on the east side. The "bowtie" structure visible around the bar on the SDSS was not seen. A mag 17.3 star is superimposed just 15" N of center and a mag 16.2 star is at the southeast edge of the galaxy. Forms a pair (Arp 305) with NGC 4017 6' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb