William Herschel discovered NGC 4073 = H II-277 = h1072 on 20 Dec 1784 (sweep 349) and noted "F, S". John Herschel made 4 observations (first on 7 Apr 1828). David Todd independently found this galaxy (#12a) on 2 Jan 1878 during his his search for a trans-Neptunian planet.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/86): moderately bright, elongated WNW-ESE, moderately large, bright core, stellar nucleus. Brightest of a poor cluster (MKW 4) with NGC 4063 6.0' SW, NGC 4075 11' N, NGC 4077 7.3' SSE, NGC 4139 = IC 2989 6.0' SSE and UGC 7042 8' W, all in the field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb