William Herschel discovered NGC 4379 = H II-87 = h1240 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 182) and noted "S, resolvable, brightest in the middle." There is nothing at his position, though UGC 7502 is 10' northwest. JH independently discovered this galaxy on 6 May 1826 and assumed h1240 was a new object. In the GC, he questioned the equivalence with II-87. Heinrich d'Arrest also observed NGC 4379 and discovered nearby NGC 4396. He was uncertain which one was WH's II-87. In the NGC, Dreyer concluded II-87 = h1240 and noted WH's early sweeps were often poor in position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/23/87): moderately bright, small, round, strong bright core. NGC 4396 is located 11' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb