John Herschel discovered NGC 4946 = h3460 on 3 Jun 1834 and recorded "pB; S; R; bM; 20"." On a later observation he logged "B; R: gpmbM; 60". The preceding of two [with NGC 4950]. His position is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/19/04 - Costa Rica): moderately bright, moderately large, irregularly round, 1.2' diameter. Contains a large, bright core and a fairly low surface brightness irregular halo. It was difficult to pin down the orientation as the halo fades into the background. NGC 4950 lies 5.6' NNE but was not seen. Located 1.4 degrees WSW of NGC 5011.

600/800mm - 24" (4/12/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): bright, moderately large, slightly elongated, well concentrated with a very bright core that increases to the center and a fainter 1.5' halo. Forms a pair with NGC 4946 5.6' NNE. Outyling member of the Centaurus cluster (AGC 3526).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb