William Herschel discovered NGC 4117 = H III-708 = h1091 on 6 Feb 1788 (sweep 810) and logged vF, vS. The foregoing nebula [NGC 4111], 2 stars [HJ 2598] and this are in a line from sp to nf." John Herschel's position on 12 Apr 1830 was poor but d'Arrest measured an accurate position on 2 nights in May 1865.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/12/86): fairly faint, small, elongated SSW-NNE, broadly concentrated. Located on the opposite side of a mag 8 star from NGC 4111.

400/500mm - 17.5" fairly faint, fairly small, oval SSW-NNE, weak concentration. Forms a close pair with faint NGC 4118 1.6' SE and NGC 4111 lies 8.5' WSW. The double star h2596 = 8.2/10.7 at 34" is 5' WSW.

600/800mm - 24" (5/30/16): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, 0.9'x0.3', well concentrated with a small bright elongated core with faint extensions. Forms a pair with NGC 4118 1.8' SE. NGC 4111, the brightest member in a group, lies 8.6' SW and orange mag 8.1 HD 105288 (wide pair) is 5' WSW. Member of the NGC 4111 Group = LGG 269.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb