William Herschel discovered NGC 4762 = H II-75 = h1466 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep 174) and logged "Two pB nebula; the preceding [NGC 4754] of them is almost R. The following [NGC 4762] vmE; they are not far from the same parallel and about 8 or 10' distant." His position is between the two galaxies. In 1852 Samuel Hunter (Lord Rosse's assistant) reported "I strongly suspect the ends to be twisted."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/13/91): very bright, fairly large, beautiful edge-on 12:1 SW-NE, 6.0'x0.5', small intensely bright core, stellar nucleus. The unusually thin arms taper at the ends. The galaxy appears to have a sharper light cut-off, possibly due to a dust lane along the west side. Located almost midway between two 9th magnitude stars (SAO 100313 3.9' WSW and a mag 9.5 star 2.8' E). Forms a pair with NGC 4754 11' NW.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/4/13): extremely bright, stunning thin edge-on SW-NE, ~6.0'x0.6'. An extremely thin bright streak extends along the major axis, brightening at the center to a remarkably bright core and stellar nucleus. Beyond the tips of the very high surface portion of the edge-on disc, the galaxy has diffuse extensions at both ends that flare out and appear like water being sprayed out the end of a hose. The extensions increase the length to at least 8'. The bright disc has a sharp edge, particularly on the west side, but a low surface brightness glow is visible on both sides, increasing the width to at least 1' and the overall dimensions to 8'x1'. The southern side of the galaxy is flanked by two mag 9.5 stars and a mag 10.5 star is directly south. NGC 4754 lies 11' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb