John Herschel discovered NGC 4553 = h3400 on 22 Apr 1835 and recorded "F; R; or lE; glbM." His single position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/7/89): fairly faint, oval NNW-SSE. A mag 11.5/12.5 double star at 22" separation lies 3.6' NNE. This possible member of the Centaurus galaxy cluster (AGC 3526) is located 10' SW of mag 6.8 SAO 203629.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb