William Herschel discovered NGC 4344 = H III-31 = h1224 on 14 Mar 1784 (sweep 170) and noted "eF. It forms a triangle with 2 small stars." JH logged "F; not vS; R; vglbM; 25"." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/23/98): faint, small, round, 30" diameter. Appears as a diffuse glow with weak concentration forming an isosceles triangle with two mag 13 and 14 stars 2.0' SE and 2.0' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb