William Herschel discovered NGC 4551 = H I-37 = h1349 on 17 Apr 1784 (sweep 199) and recorded "Two small but bright nebula; both lE." JH made 2 observations and recorded (sweep 245) "pB; R; bM; 25"; the nf of 2; place by comparison with the preceding."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/87): moderately bright, fairly small, oval 4:3 ~E-W, small bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 13 star lies 2.1' NW of center. Forms a pair with NGC 4550 3.2' SSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb