William Herschel discovered NGC 4967 = H III-783 = h1533 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 921) and noted "vF, S, E." There is nothing at his offset but ~1.0 min of RA west and 2.5' north is CGCG 270-050 = PGC 45281. This is a similar offset error as H III-782 = NGC 4974, the previous object in the sweep, so this identification is fairly secure. JH recorded "either a vF neb and star attached, or a nebulous double star, a doubtful object. The RA differs materially from that of my Father's III. 783." JH's position (used in the NGC) matches CGCG 270-050 and the star is at the southwest edge. Dreyer equated III-783 = h1533 in his notes to WH's third catalogue.

400/500mm - 18" (6/27/03): very faint, fairly small, round, very low surface brightness glow, ~0.8' diameter. A mag 14 star is at the SW edge. Located 7' S of NGC 4973 in a compact group of 5 galaxies.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb