William Herschel discovered NGC 4546 = H I-160 = h1339 on 29 Dec 1786 (sweep 674) and recorded "vB, cL, E from sp to nf but nearer the parallel [E-W] than the meridian, a BN with faint branches, the nucleus very gradually diminishing." John Herschel made four observations and recorded (sweep 147) "vB; mE; vsmbM to a r nucleus; 2' long, 90" br." Joseph Turner sketched the galaxy elongated at least 3:1 with the 48" Melbourne Telescope on 8 Apr 1878. (p.170 in logbook)

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/24/90): bright, moderately large, elongated 5:2 WSW-ENE, very bright core, bright stellar nucleus. A mag 11 star is 2.0' SE of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb