Isaac Roberts discovered IC 5132 and 5133 on a photograph taken 25 Sep 1895 of NGC 7129. He noted "there are three stara, each about 13th magnitude, surrounded by very faint nebulosity in the positions following, measured from the centre of the tristellar nucleus of the nebula: (1) 358" north following; (2) 326" north preceding; (3) 277" north preceding. The stars Nos. 2 and 3 are not referred to in Dr. Dreyer's catalogues, and the measurements given above are approximate." His offsets identify the two stars given here, although Dreyer's positions are offset to the southwest. Roberts' first object didn't make it into the IC as Dreyer apparently thought it was identical to NGC 7133.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/17/98): IC 5132 and IC 5133 refers to faint nebulosity surrounding a pair of mag 12 stars at 1' separation situated ~5' NNW of NGC 7129 (same complex of reflection nebulae). It was difficult to verify with certainty as the background sky around six stars arranged in two parallel rows each ~2' in length appears to be weakly glowing. IC 5132 and 5133 are surrounding the two stars closest to NGC 7129 and the background glow does appear very slightly enhanced around these stars.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb