Andrew Cooper
Jan 4, 2025    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A wide double, a 9th magnitude star with a 10th magnitude companion visible 1' east, the pair is found 17' northeast from 70 UMa, too faint to ascribe colors

Gaia EDR3 data shows these two share no physical relationship, the brighter western compnent lies about twice as far away and shows a highly divergent proper motion

Andrew Cooper
Jun 13, 1998    Pinal Peak, AZ (map)
20cm f/10 SCT

Conformed with finder chart from Burhnam's then located NGC4290 nearby, the galaxy is just on the edge of the 8" capability

William Herschel
Aug 5, 1799    Observatory House, Slough (map)

Not visible in the finder.

Charles Messier
Oct 24, 1764    

[1780 and 1781] Two stars very close together & very small, placed at the root of the tail of the Great Bear: One has difficulty to distinguish them with an ordinary telescope of 6 feet. While searching for the nebula above the back of Ursa Major, reported in the book Figures des Astres, and which is supposed to be for 1660 at 183d 32' 41" right ascension, & 60d 20' 33" northern declination, which Messier couldn't see, he has observed these two stars.[1780 and 1781] Two stars very close together & very small, placed at the root of the tail of the Great Bear: One has difficulty to distinguish them with an ordinary telescope of 6 feet. While searching for the nebula above the back of Ursa Major, reported in the book Figures des Astres, and which is supposed to be for 1660 at 183d 32' 41" right ascension, & 60d 20' 33" northern declination, which Messier couldn't see, he has observed these two stars.

― Connaissance des Temps, 1781