William Herschel discovered NGC 4392 = H III-729 = h1249 on 27 Apr 1788 (sweep 833) and noted "vF, S." Caroline's reduction is within 1' of CGCG 244-012 = PGC 40499. John Herschel made the single observation, "F; S; R; vgbM. RA from II. 749 [NGC 4389], which it follows 10 sec." But NGC 4392 is west of[NGC 4389 by 17 sec of RA (3' north of JH's position), so there must have been some confusion. JH used his position in the GC and Dreyer followed, so the NGC position is poor. As a result, Curtis reportd in the 1918 "Descriptions of 762 Nebulae and Clusters Photographed with the Crossley Reflector", "There is nothing in just this position, though there are several small nebulae near." He did finger the correct galaxy, though: "The NGC description accords best with a very small, moderately bright oval 9' n: and 2' w. of 4389."

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/17/86): fairly faint, small, elongated, bright core. Located 10' NNW of NGC 4389.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb