William Herschel discovered NGC 704 = H III-563, along with NGC 703, 705 and 708, on 21 Sep 1786 (sweep 599). He described the group as "Four, unequal, 3 in a row NGC 704, 705, 708], the 4th NGC 703] making a rectangle with them. All in the space of 2 or 3'; the one at the angular part [NGC 708] is much larger than the others."

R.J. Mitchell, observing with LdR's 72" on 7 Oct 1855, noted " NGC 704] is seen with higher power (single lens) to be double." So, he resolved this double system. I suggested to Harold Corwin (in Mar 2014) that the two components could justifiably be labeled NGC 704A and NGC 704B.

300/350mm - 13.1" (9/22/84): fairly faint, very small. Second brightest of four in the core of AGC 262.

13.1" (12/11/82): very faint. On a line with NGC 705 and NGC 708.

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/19/87): fairly faint, small, oval ~N-S, weak concentration. Located in the dense core of AGC 262 with NGC 705 1.3' NE, NGC 703 2.7'N and NGC 708 2.7' NE. This double galaxy (companion NGC 704A = PGC 3626786 at the south edge) was unresolved, but was merged in the N-S direction.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb