William Herschel discovered NGC 4682 = H III-523 = h3423 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 546) and recorded "vF, E from sp to nf, 3 or 4' l, near 3' br." JH called this galaxy "pF; E; gvlbM; 45" l." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): fairly large, very diffuse, elongated ~WSW-ENE, low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is off the NE edge 1.5' from center. The NGC 4658/NGC 4663 pair is located 35' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb