William Herschel discovered NGC 4961 = H II-398 = h1529 on 11 Apr 1785 (sweep 396) and noted "F, S." CH's reduced position is 2.4' northwest of UGC 8185 = PGC 45311. JH logged "F; irr fig; bM" and measured an accurate position. See notes for NGC 4960, which may a duplicate observation.

300/350mm - 13.1" (5/14/83): faint, fairly small, round, diffuse with low surface brightness. Located 15' NE of 41 Comae Berenices (V = 4.8).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb