William Herschel discovered NGC 4549 = H III-807 = h1347 on 24 Apr 1789 (sweep 926) and recorded "Two [with III-802 = NGC 4547], both eF, S, E different ways. The place is that of the first NGC 4547], the 2nd [NGC 4549] is about 4' following and 3' more north, and still fainter than the 1st." His offset pretty clearly identifies NGC 4549 = MCG +10-18-072 = PGC 41954, and this galaxy is certainly one of the faintest he discovered!

RNGC and CGCG misidentify MCG +10-18-070 (fainter member of a double system wth NGC 4547) as NGC 4549. The identifications of NGC 4547 and 4549 are covered in Harold Corwin's identification notes and by Malcolm Thomson in his correction lists.

400/500mm - 18" (5/12/07): extremely faint and small, round, 10" diameter, required averted vision to glimpse, though transparency was very mediocre. Located near the midpoint of a mag 14 star 2.3' N and a mag 11 star 2.7' S. This galaxy is not identified as NGC 4549 in the RNGC or CGCG. Located 4.3' ENE of the double system NGC 4547.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb