William Herschel discovered NGC 4771 = H II-535 = h1468 on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 532) and recorded "F, mE, 2' l and 3/4' br from np to sf." JH made the single observation "F; mE; follows a * 9m in parallel; sky not quite clear." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/28/87): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated 3:1 NW-SE, only a weak concentration. Located 2.7' E of a mag 10 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb