John Herschel discovered NGC 4292 = h1196 on 7 Apr 1828 and logged "F; S; near a bright star; precedes M61 about half a field." A few nights later he logged "F; R; vglbM; has a star 70° np; 1' dist. Taken for H I-139, but this nebula does not exist, or is identical with M61." The latter is the case.

On 1 Mar 1851, Bindon Stoney (LdR's assistant) recorded "bM and has a vF companion". While compiling the 1880 publication, Dreyer added the note "2' north by diagram." At this offset from NGC 4292 is NGC 4292A = PGC 213977, another pre-NGC discovery which should have recieved a NGC designation.

300/350mm - 13" (2/23/85): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated ~N-S, brighter core. A mag 9 star is 1' NW.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/87): fairly faint, small, bright core, slightly elongated halo. Located 1.3' SSE of a mag 10 star. Forms a close pair with NGC 4292A 2' N. The companion appeared very faint, very small, almost round, requires averted. M61 lies 11' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb