William Herschel discovered NGC 4698 = H I-8 = H III-6 on 18 Jan 1784 (only object in sweep 87) and simply called III-6 "a nebula of the first class." The RA was only roughly taken in this early sweep and a two degree range for the polar distance. He observed this galaxy again on 15 Apr 1784 and logged "vB, not L, lE, mbM. It is between some pB stars." Again on 1 May 1786 (sweep 560) he noted "cB; cL; between 2 pB stars, gmbM." and CH noted "See I.8."

In Dreyer's 1912 revision of William Herschel's catalogues, he notes "the place [of III-6] agrees sufficiently with that of I-8 (found on 23 Jan 1784), and a sketch also agrees with one of I-8. The identity seems certain, and was assumed to be so by J.H. [in the GC]". The NGC position is 10 tsec following UGC 9790. Schwassmann's corrected RA (based on a Heidelberg plate) in the IC 2 notes is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/21/90): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 N-S, small very bright core. Situated between a mag 11 star at the north edge 2.1' from the center and a mag 10.5 star off the south edge 2.7' from center. Mag 7.7 SAO 119597 lies 6.7' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb