William Herschel discovered NGC 4742 = H I-133 = h3432 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 546) and logged "cB, vS, BN." His position matches MCG -02-33-032 = PGC 43594. JH described "A star 9m, with a strong burr about of very small extent, diam 10". It is the best specimen of the class of "stellar nebulae" that I remember to have seen."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): moderately bright, small, bright stellar nucleus. A mag 12 star lies 1.3' SE of center. Situated 9' SE of ∑1682, a bright unequal double star with components 6.4/9.7 at 30". In a group with NGC 4760 20' E and NGC 4781 38' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb