William Herschel discovered NGC 4026 = H I-223 = h1047 on 12 Apr 1789 (sweep 919) and recorded "cB, E in the direction of the meridian, BN with vF branches, 3' long." His RA was 20 seconds too large, but the NGC position (probably from John Herschel) is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/8/97): bright, large, excellent lens-shape edge-on 5:1 N-S, 4.0'x0.8'. Sharply concentrated with a striking bulging core and non-stellar nucleus. Extensions tapers at ends. Located 7.2' SSW of mag 9.2 SAO 28211. NGC 4026 is a member of the NGC 3992 (M109) group = LGG 258.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb