John Herschel discovered NGC 4778 = h3438, along with NGC 4776, on 5 May 1836 and recorded "vF; S; R; vlbM; 15"; has a * sf; the following of two [with NGC 4776]." He later added the note "II 559 is not noticed as double in Sir W. Herschel's description." See notes for NGC 4476. RNGC, PGC and SIMBAD misidentify this galaxy as NGC 4761.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/13/96): this is the brighter southeast component of the double system NGC 4759 (see notes) and listed as HCG 62A. At 220x, it appears fairly faint, round, 1.0' diameter, increases to a small bright core. HCG 62B is virtually attached to the northwest edge. Mag 9 SAO 139019 is just 1.5' SSW of the pair.

17.5" (5/17/90): the southeast member of this double system is slightly larger and brighter and appears faint, small, slightly elongated E-W, bright core. Located 2' N of mag 9.1 SAO 139019. Second of four with NGC 4761 1' ENE and NGC 4764 4' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb