William Herschel discovered NGC 4377 = H I-12 = h1239 on 19 Feb 1784 (sweep 149) and recorded "pB, but not vL; I saw it only through a very strong haziness and only a single moment." JH made the single observation "B; S; vsmbM" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/23/87): moderately bright, fairly small, almost round or slightly elongated N-S, small very bright core, stellar nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb