John Herschel discovered NGC 4444 = h3393 on 15 Mar 1836 and recorded "eF; L; R; vgbM; 3' diam." His single position is very accurate.

300/350mm - 14" (4/2/16 - Coonabarabran, 160x): fairly faint, moderately large, round, ~1.4' diameter, weak concentration with a very small brighter nucleus. A mag 13.2 star is just off the NE edge [1.0' from center]. NGC 4444 forms the northeast vertex of a triangle with a mag 8 star 4.8' ENE and a mag 10 star 4.6' S. In addition two mag 9.6 stars are 7' SW and 8' SSW!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb