William Herschel discovered NGC 4956 = H II-413 = h1525 on 1 May 1785 (sweep 405) and logged "pF, S, R, mbM." CH's reduction is 2' northwest of UGC 8177.

400/500mm - 18" (3/30/05): moderately bright, small, round, 0.6' diameter. Sharply concentrated with a bright 15" core and stellar nucleus. Located 38' SSW of 5.2-magnitude 14 Canum Venaticorum.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb