John Herschel discovered NGC 4337 = h3388 on 1 Apr 1834 and reported "a p rich cl; not much compressed in the middle; stars 12...14m, in curved branches. A fine double star follows [Brs 8]." His position is just west of center of this cluster.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 105x, ~15 stars are arranged in a striking 4.5' diameter partial oval for ~270 degrees and open on the west side. A few stars are situated both in the interior and outside of this three-fourth completed ring. In the center of the loop are a few mag 13-14 stars and a fairly bright background glow from a dense group of unresolved stars in the core of the cluster. A gorgeous, equal mag double star Brs 8 = 7.6/7.9 at 5" is located 6' E. The cluster is located midway between Delta and Gamma Crucis along one side of the Southern Cross. This group may be an asterism an not a physical cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb