William Herschel discovered NGC 4966 = H III-304 = h1531 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 387) and recorded "eF, vS, lE. 240 verified it just north following a vB star about 8 or 9 m." His position (CH's reduction) is 19 sec of RA east and 3' south of UGC 8194, but his comment aboout the bright star clinches the identification. JH measured an accurate position and recorded on sweep 342, "F; lE; vglbM; pos from the double star h2626 = 34.9° by micrometer."

400/500mm - 18" (4/5/03): faint, small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 0.5'x0.25'. Located 2.5' NE of mag 6.5 SAO 82648, which detracts from viewing. This star has a faint, 14th magnitude companion. NGC 4952 lies 17' WNW. Outlying member of AGC 1656 and classified as a Seyfert galaxy.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb