Lewis Swift discovered IC 5210 = Sw. XI-214, along with IC 5211, on 8 Aug 1896 while searching for Comet 1889 V (Brooks). His description for XI-214 reads "eF; S; near n[orth] of f[ollowing] * of 7 in line p and f; p of 2.", which is a perfect match with ESO 602-012 = PGC 68674. Swift's RA is 20 seconds too small, but Howe measured an accurate position in 1898-99 that was used in the IC 2.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/6/97): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter. With direct vision a stellar nucleus is easily visible. Located 2.3' NNE of a mag 11 star. Forms a pair with IC 5211 2.9' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb