Albert Marth discovered NGC 4042 = m 227, along with NGC 4056 and NGC 4060, on 18 Mar 1865 using William Lassell's 48" on Malta. There is nothing near his position and his description "vF, vS" is not helpful. Harold Corwin suggests NGC 4042 = LEDA 3781394 = 2MASX J12024674+2009478. This galaxy is located 26 tsec of RA east and 1.8' N of Marth's position. This offset in declination would also match the offsets for suggested identifications for NGC 4056 and 4060, though NGC 4042 is still further off in terms of RA. See Corwin's notes.

Karl Reinmuth, in his 1926 photographic survey "Die Herschel-Nebel", suggests the possible equivalent with NGC 4032, but this galaxy is 1.8 tmin of RA west and 4' south of Marth's position. Carlson and RNGC also give this possible equivalence.

600/800mm - 24" (3/22/14): very faint, very small, round, 12" diameter. Cannot hold steadily at 375x but not difficult to see knowing the position. The identification of this number is uncertain.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb