William Herschel discovered NGC 4494 = H I-83 = h1307 on 6 Apr 1785 (sweep 393) and recorded "cB, pL, mbM, iR." John Herschel noted "vB; R; vsmbM to a nucl; 40-50" dia."

400/500mm - 18" (4/5/03): very bright, fairly large, slightly elongated ~N-S, ~3'x2.4', sharply concentrated with a very bright 20" core which increases to center. The halo gradually fades and increases in size with averted vision. Located 6' SSW of mag 7.9 HD 109030 and 35' ESE of the wide binocular pair 17 Coma.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb