William Herschel discovered NGC 4197 = H II-134 = h1137 on 13 Apr 1784 (sweep 191) and noted "F, mE." JH recorded "pB; E; vgbM; 20"; like II. 133 [NGC 4180]." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/24/90): fairly faint, moderately large, edge-on 5:1 SW-NE, low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is south of the SW end 1.5' from the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb