Edward Holden discovered NGC 4581 on 20 Apr 1882 with the 15.6-inch refractor at the Washburn Observatory and recorded "F, S, bM, stell N" (Publications of the Washburn Observatory, Vol II, p101). His position is 1' north of UGC 7801.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, even concentration to a small bright core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb