William Herschel discovered NGC 4800 = H I-211 = h1478 on 1 Apr 1788 (sweep 823) and recorded "pF, vS, bM." On 29 Apr (sweep 836) he logged "pB, pS, R, bM, following a small star." Joihn Herschel made two observations but the position was only measured once. d'Arrest noted the mag 13 star, which he measured 4.7 sec of RA preceding and the mag 13 star 19.6 sec of RA following and a little south.

300/350mm - 13.1" (4/12/86): fairly bright, fairly small, fainter halo with large bright core containing a stellar nucleus. A mag 13.5 star is just 0.8' WNW from center. Located 15' SE of mag 7.6 SAO 44376.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb