William Herschel discovered NGC 4284 = H III-798 on 17 Apr 1789 (sweep 923) and recorded "cF, lE, iF. The preceding of two [with II-805 = NGC 4290]. His re-reduced position is 2' northwest of UGC 7393.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/13/88): faint, small, bright core, elongated NW-SE. Forms a right angle with two mag 13 stars 1.3' S and 1.1' E of center. Forms a pair with NGC 4290 5' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb