DeLisle Stewart discovered IC 5071 = D.S. 699 on a plate taken at Harvard's Arequipa station on 26 Sep 1900. He noted "cB, S, eE at 20°, stell N."

600/800mm - 30" (10/18/17 - OzSky): at 264x; moderately bright and large, very elongated 5:1 or 6:1 SSW-NNE, 1.5'x0.25', small brighter elongated core, low surface brightness outer extensions. Appears slightly brighter on the northern extension (perhaps a HII knot?). A mag 13.3 star is off the western flank of the northern end of the galaxy [0.9' from center] and a 25" pair of mag 13.2/14 stars is close northeast of the northern tip of the galaxy [2.1' from center]. Forms a pair with IC 5073 9.5' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb