William Herschel discovered NGC 4636 = H II-38 = h1399 = h1401 on 23 Feb 1784 (sweep 158) and recorded "pB, pL. It seems to be of the resolvable kind, and is of an irregular shape." JH measured two good positions under h1399, logging "B; L; R; vgvmbM but not to a nucleus." in sweep 238. But on sweep 142, he listed it again as h1401, a possible "Nova", this time with a 1° error in declination (too far north).

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/24/90): very bright, large, slightly elongated NW-SE, very bright core, substellar nucleus, extensive halo appears mottled. Located between two mag 12/13 stars 3.4' NNW and 3.1' S, respectively.

600/800mm - 24" (2/24/20): at 200x; I took a quick look at this galaxy to observed SN 2020ue, a type Ia supernova discovered on 12 Jan '20. It was very easy to identify as roughly 14th magnitude.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb