William Herschel discovered NGC 4231 = H III-719, along with NGC 4232, on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 816) and recorded both as "Two both vF, vS, from north to south about 1' distance." CH's reduction is 20 sec of time following this pair.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/12/86): faint, small, round. Forms a very similar close pair with NGC 4232 1.1' S! NGC 4248 lies 10' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb