William Herschel discovered NGC 4215 = H II-135 = h1147 on 13 Apr 1784 (sweep 191) and noted "S, E, pBM." JH made three observations, recording on sweep 250 "vB; mE; vsbM to a * 11m."
400/500mm - 17.5" (3/24/90): fairly bright, moderately large, pretty system very elongated NNW-SSE, small bright core, stellar nucleus.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb