William Herschel discovered NGC 4781 = H I-134 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 546) and logged "cB, 7 or 8' long, about 3' broad." His position matches MCG -02-33-049 = PGC 43902.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): bright, large, very elongated ~E-W, high surface brightness but weak concentration. A mag 12.5 star is embedded in the preceding side 1.0' W of center and two comparable stars lie 2.0' W and 3.6' ESE of center. Forms a pair with NGC 4784 5.7' SSE. NGC 4790 lies 18' NNE and NGC 4760 20' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb