NGC 4638 is an edge-on lenticular galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. NGC 4638 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 15, 1784. The galaxy is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

300/350mm - 13.1" (5/14/83): fairly bright, small, bright core, elongated.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/25/87): moderately bright, very elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, fairly small, bright core, substellar nucleus. Located between M59 and M60.

600/800mm - 24" (5/25/14): very bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.6', sharply concentrated with a very bright, very elongated core (bar or edge-on S0?) and a much fainter oval halo. NGC 4637, an extremely faint companion, is 1.6' E of center.