Stephane Javelle found IC 4381 = J. 3-1294, along with IC 4382, on 15 Jun 1895. NGC 5008, discovered by d'Arrest, is probably an earlier observation. There is nothing at d'Arrest's position, but Harold Corwin noticed that IC 4381 is exactly 1 hour of RA east. In addition, a mag 10.5 star precedes by 1.2 seconds (as per d'Arrest), though the star is ~90" south (not north). So, NGC 5008 = IC 4381, assuming d'Arrest made these two errors. See NGC 5008 for more.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/8/96): brightest member of HCG 71 along with IC 4382 = HCG 71B 1.8' NE and HCG 71C 2.0' SE. At 220x it appeared faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter, almost even surface brightness. Located 1.5' N of a mag 10 star, which is the southeast of three stars in a 2.5' string with two mag 12 stars. This galaxy is generally known as IC 4381, though NGC 5008 is probably an earlier observation.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb