William Herschel discovered NGC 4790 = H II-560 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 546) and noted "pF, pS, iR." His position is a good match with MCG -02-33-056 = PGC 43972. Harold Knox-Shaw identified this galaxy as an "open spiral" in 1915, based on a photograph taken with the 30" reflector at the Helwan Observatory between 1912-14.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/23/85): moderately bright, fairly large, broad and pretty weak concentration, elongated ~E-W. NGC 4781 lies 18' SSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb