Wilhelm Tempel discovered NGC 4186 = T I-38 in 1887. His position in this paper is 10 seconds of RA preceding and 10' south of M98. But in list V (AN 2439) he states it is located 20 seconds of time east and 9.5' south of M98. Dreyer used the latter position, but confused the direction of RA offset and placed NGC 4186 20 sec of RA preceding of M98, instead of following. His offset in list V establishes NGC 4186 = UGC 7240, but the RA in the NGC is 40 seconds of RA too small. The correct position was measured by Kobold in 1901 (Strasbourg Annales, Vol 3, 1907).

Because of erroneous NGC position, UGC and MCG misidentify UGC 7223 (which lies 22 sec of RA west of M98 and 7.4' south) as NGC 4186. Also, CGCG misidentifies CGCG 098-119 as NGC 4186. The correct identification was first given by Dorothy Carlson in 1940 paper and also given in RNGC and RC3.

It's possible NGC 4186 was first observed at Birr Castle on 10 Feb 1861. Samuel Hunter noticed a "F, R neb with a * or Nucl in centre", which he described as 1/2 field of finder [13'] north of M98. If he confused the direction, then the comment probably applies to NGC 4186.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/29/84): faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, 11' SSE of M98.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/86): faint, small, slightly elongated. Located 11.0' SSE of M98.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb