E.E. Barnard discovered IC 5145, along with IC 5144, on 30 Jul 1888 with the 12-inch refractor at Lick Observatory. It was found after comet-seeking "in the field and s.p. an 8th magnitude star [mag 7.7 HD 208277]." He notified Dreyer directly, so no discovery announcement was published before the IC was published. His position is 4.3' too far northwest, but shares the same offset with IC 5144.

600/800mm - 24" (8/12/15): at 375x; moderately bright, elongated 5:3 ~N-S, 40"x24", contains a brighter, elongated core. A mag 14.5 star is 1.2' S. Brightest in a group (WBL 674) with IC 5144 8' SSW, CGCG 427-040 6.8' S and UGC 11845 8.5' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb