It is the premier edge on galaxy, complete with dark lane and central bulge, shining at mag. 10.2, with a size of 15.85'x2.14'. Image is a mosaic from the Digital Sky Survey. Paint Shop Pro. It shows well, areas of older yellow stars, red HII regions, and clusters of hot blue stars.
Some observers report a second stellar nucleus just south of the first.
NGC4359 lies 34' to the north-west of 4414. This one does not brighten much toward the middle. Not for the faint of heart. It has a much brighter nucleus that lies offset to the west, a feature visible in larger instruments. NGC4245 lies 29' to the west.