E.E. Barnard discovered IC 5005 on 28 Aug 1888 with the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory He noted "Verified the faint nebula of Aug 26 [IC 4999] and found another smaller one, very faint, just north of 12m star. It is following an 8m star [by 43 seconds of time]." The identification is certain.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/8/02): faint, moderately large, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 1.2'x0.8'. Fairly low, nearly even surface brightness. A faint star is close NNW. Located 3' due north of a mag 10 star.

17.5" (8/6/97): fairly faint, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 1.4'x1.0'. Very weak or no concentration. A mag 13.5 star (which has a faint companion preceding) is at the NW edge [35" from center]. Located 2.8' N of a mag 10 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb