William Herschel discovered NGC 4500 = H I-234 = h1311 on 17 Apr 1789 (sweep 923) and recorded "cB, vS, lE. Just preceding a pL star." John Herschel logged "pB; E; pgbM; a * 9m foll 30" dist in parallel." His position was 1' to the southwest.

400/500mm - 18" (5/8/04): moderately bright, small lens, elongated 5:2 NNW-SSE. Sharply concentrated with a very small bright core and faint extensions. Located 1' W of a mag 10.5 star!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb