William Herschel discovered NGC 4597 = H II-636 on 22 Feb 1787 (sweep 706) and noted "F, vL, bM." CH's reduced position is 3' southwest of MCG -01-32-034 = PGC 42429.
400/500mm - 17.5" (2/28/87): fairly faint, elongated SSW-NNE, very large but diffuse, smooth surface brightness.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb