William Herschel discovered NGC 4705 = H III-610 = h1440 on 22 Feb 1787 (sweep 706) and noted "cF, pL, E." JH made a single observation, though his RA is 17 sec too large. Henrich d'Arrest made two observations and measured an accurate position (given in the NGC).
400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE, brighter middle but no core. A mag 14.5 star is involved at the east edge 0.9' SE of center. Located 5' SSW of mag 8.8 SAO 138982. NGC 4718 lies 19' ESE.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb