Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 4971 on 23 Apr 1865 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. His single position is 6 sec of RA west of CGCG 160-140 = PGC 45406 and he mentioned the double star to the north.

400/500mm - 18" (7/1/03): faint, small, irregular round, 0.6'x0.5', weak concentration with a faint stellar nucleus or a very faint star may be superimposed. This galaxy is collinear with a pretty pair of mag 11 stars [18" separation] located 3' NNW. NGC 4983 lies 24' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb