NGC 4373 is the brightest in a subgroup of at least 7 galaxies on the northwest side of the Centaurus Cluster (AGC 3526), including IC 3290 and IC 3370. IC 3290, just 2' SW of NGC 4373, appeared faint, fairly small, round, 25" diameter. It seems odd that John Herschel missed this galaxy.

John Herschel discovered NGC 4373 = h3391 on 8 Jun 1834 and logged "pB; S; R; pgvmbM." His position is accurate. Joseph Turner sketched the galaxy on 16 Apr 1877 (p. 136 of his logbook) with the 48" Melbourne Telescope and also discovered IC 3290, though he never announced the discovery and Lewis Swift, who rediscovered it in 1898, was credited in the IC.

400/500mm - 18" (3/28/09): fairly bright and large, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, 1.5'x1.0'. Contains a large bright center that increases to a small, bright core. A number of stars surround the galaxy.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb