John Herschel discovered NGC 4976 = h3468 on 31 Mar 1835 and recorded "B; R; gmbM; 80"." His RA was 12 tsec too large.

300/350mm - 12" (6/29/02 - Bargo, Australia): at 140x, fairly bright, moderately large, slightly elongated, 2'x1.5', sharply concentrated with a prominent core. Located 30' E of NGC 4945 and 4.6' W of mag 7.8 SAO 223931.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb