William Herschel discovered NGC 4999 = H II-537 = h1543 on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 532) and recorded "F, pL, iR, er." His position is just northeast of the core of UGC 8236. JH made the single observation "eF; R; lbM; sky not perfectly clear." and his RA is further out.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/19/01): fairly faint, moderately large, round, 2.0' diameter. Contains a very small brighter core surrounded by a low surface brightness halo. A mag 14 star is barely off the east edge 1.1' from center. Located 8' E of a mag 10 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb