Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 4863 = LM 1-195, along with NGC 4862, on 26 Feb 1886. His rough position (given to the nearest min of RA) is a good match with MCG -02-33-081 = PGC 44650, and his comment "vE 45°" (as well as sketch examined by Corwin) clinches this identification, though the PA is 23°.

400/500mm - 18" (5/15/10): at 285x appeared faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 SSW-NNE, 40"x18", fairly low evens surface brightness. A mag 15 star lies 1' SE of center.

600/800mm - 24" (6/1/13): at 282x appeared fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 7:2 SSW-NNE, 1.1'x0.3', well concentrated with a very small, well-defined, small bright nucleus. NGC 4862 lies 6.8' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb