Edward Holden discovered NGC 4576 on 27 Apr 1881 with the 15.6-inch Clark refractor at the Washburn Observatory and recorded "F; np a star 7th mag." A second observation on 20 Apr 1882 added "preceding GC 3125 [ NGC 4586] 55.5 sec and 3' north." His position and description matches UGC 7792 = PGC 42152.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/21/90): very faint, small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, low surface brightness. A mag 12.5 star is 1.8' N of center. Located 8' NW of mag 6.9 SAO 119502. NGC 4586 lies 15' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb