William Herschel discovered NGC 4455 = H II-355 = h1285 on 10 Apr 1785 (sweep 394) and recorded "pF, L, broadly elongated." CH's reduction is 25 sec of RA following UGC 7603. JH made two observations, logging "pB; pmE; gbM; two B stars nf" on sweep 424, and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 18" (4/5/03): moderately bright, fairly large, very elongated 7:2 SSW-NNE, 2.5'x0.7', broad concentration, bulging core, fades at the tips of the extensions. A wide pair of mag 11 stars are 3' and 4' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb