Lewis Swift discovered IC 5131 = Sw. XI-207, along with IC 5135 = NGC 7130, on 17 Sep 1897 and noted "vF; vS; R." His position is 5.4' too far southwest, roughly the same offset as XI-208 = IC 5135 and XI-209 = NGC 7135. Herbert Howe measured an accurate micrometric position (given in the IC2) in 1898-99.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/16/93): fairly faint, small, round, small bright core, stellar nucleus. Situated at the midpoint on a line connecting two stars mag 13.5 and 14.5 separation 3.0' oriented SW-NE. 1st of 3 with NGC 7130 11' SE and NGC 7135 29' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb