Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 4563 on 13 Apr 1864 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. His two micrometric positions match MCG +05-30-033 = PGC 42030, so there is no question on the identification.

RNGC misidentifies this galaxy as NGC 4557. Furthermore, CGCG and RNGC misidentify IC 3556 (located 3.5' west-northwest of NGC 4563) as NGC 4563. Finally, in the UGC notes for NGC 4556, IC 3556 is misidentified as NGC 4536.

400/500mm - 18" (5/12/07): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, stellar nucleus. A very faint star appears to be at the west edge. Comparable in brightness to NGC 4558 located 5.4' NW. Located in a small knot of galaxies with NGC 4556 6' WSW.

18" (4/5/03): faint, extremely small, round, 10"-15" diameter. Appears to have a mag 14.5 star superimposed on the west edge or a fairly bright offset stellar nucleus.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb