William Herschel discovered NGC 4977 = H III-780 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 921) and noted "cF, S." His position (re-reduced with respect to NGC 4964) is 21 sec of time east of UGC 8196. Bigourdan measured an accurate RA.

400/500mm - 18" (6/27/03): fairly faint, fairly small, 0.8' diameter, very weak concentration. Located at the midpoint of a mag 12.5 star 4' W and a mag 14 star 4' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb