William Herschel discovered NGC 4169 = H III-358 = h1120, along with NGC 4173, 4174 and 4175, on 11 Apr 1785 (sweep 396) and recorded "Four, the time and number belongs to the largest [NGC 4170], which is F and S. The other three are less and fainter; forming a small quartile, the largest being the most north of the preceding side; all within 3 arc minutes."

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/12/86): brightest in a small group of four galaxies = HCG 61. Moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, very small bright core. Forms the west vertex of a nearly perfect rectangle with NGC 4173 1.7' NNE, NGC 4174 2.5' SE and NGC 4175 2.9' ESE.

400/500mm - 18" (6/17/06): brightest member of HCG 61 = "The Box". Appears moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, 1.2'x0.7'. Well concentrated with a 25" bright core that increases to the center.

600/800mm - 24" (5/22/17): at 282x; bright, moderately large, oval 2:1 NNW-SSE, ~1.2'x0.6', highly concentrated with an intense, elongated core that increases to a quasi-stellar nucleus.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/20/17): extremely bright, moderately large, very elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 1.5'x0.6'. Sharply concentrated with a relatively large bright core that increases to an intensely bright nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb