William Herschel discovered NGC 4981 = H II-189 = h1537 on 25 Apr 1784 (sweep 207) and recorded "pB, R, mb in a small place in the middle, near a B star." On 20 Mar 1789 (sweep 913) he also recorded "cB, R, vgbM, about 3' diameter" and measured an accurate position. John Herschel made the single observation "F; pL; R; 50"; has a * 9m, 80" dist sf."

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/17/90): moderately bright, moderately large, oval 3:2 NNW-SSE, 2.2'x1.5', sharp stellar nucleus, almost smooth halo. A mag 10 star is in contact at the SSE edge 1.1' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb