William Herschel discovered NGC 4786 = H II-187 on 25 Apr 1784 (sweep 207) and recorded "pF, pL, r." JH noted in his observation of NGC 4775 that he looked for this nebula without success.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/17/90): moderately bright, fairly small, oval 3:2 N-S, increases to a small bright core. A mag 12 star is 2.5' N. Forms a pair with NGC 4775 18.4' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb