William Herschel discovered NGC 4703 = H III-514 on 3 Mar 1786 (sweep 536) and recorded "eF, vS, E." His position is 5 sec of RA east and 1' south of MCG -01-33-015 = PGC 43342.

Based on plates taken at the Helwan observatory in 1919-20, it was described as "F, 2.5' long, vmE 155°, pF almost stellar N; absorption cuts off the northeast edge of the nebula in a sharp line parallel to its greatest extent, giving it much the appearance of the well known nebula NGC 4565."

400/500mm - 18" (4/9/05): very faint edge-on, 4:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.25', low even surface brightness. Located 8' NE of mag 7.6 HD 111384. On the DSS this galaxy looks like a miniature version of NGC 4565 with a bisecting dust lane and bulging core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb