William Herschel discovered NGC 4752 = H III-82 on 12 Apr 1784 (sweep 189) and recorded "vF, S, E, r." There is nothing near his position -- 4.05 min of RA east and 15' south of NGC 4689. Bigourdan searched unsuccessfully for this object.

Harold Corwin suggests that NGC 4752 may refer to CGCG 71-058. This galaxy is 38 sec of RA west and 15' north of WH's position, so this identification is very uncertain, although there are no other good candidates. Karl Reinmuth, using Heidelberg plates, notes "=*12; no nebulosity, *13.5 nf 2.8', S double star sf 3.0'." This mag 12 star is close to the WH's position. Dorothy Carlson, repeated this identification as a star in her 1940 NGC Correction paper, as well as the RNGC.

400/500mm - 18" (5/12/07): very faint, very small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 0.3'x0.2', visible continuously with averted vision. Located 43' SE of 5.7-magnitude 29 Coma. The NGC identification with this galaxy is very uncertain due to a poor position by William Herschel.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb