William Herschel discovered NGC 4270 = H II-568 on 17 Apr 1786 (sweep 553) and recorded "Four [NGC 4270, 4273, 4277 and 4281], the time and number is that of the last. They are scattered about." There is nothing near his position (10 min 14 sec following and 34' north of 11 Virginis), but exactly one degree south is NGC 4281, the last of the 4 bright galaxies. According to Wolfgang Steinicke, Eduard Schönfeld resolved the discrepancy and also discovered nearby NGC 4268, which was missed by WH and JH.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/87): fairly bright, elongated WNW-ESE, bright core, fainter arms, moderately large. Located 5.4' SSE of mag 9 SAO 119335. Fifth of seven in a group including NGC 4273 7.5' S, NGC 4266 4' NNW and NGC 4281 9.4' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (4/28/14): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 WNW-ESE, 1.2'x0.6', sharply concentrated with a very bright core increasing to a bright stellar nucleus. Eight additional NGC galaxies lie within 10'! NGC 4266 is 3.8' NNW, NGC 4273 7.3' SSE, NGC 4281 is 9' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb