E.E. Barnard discovered IC 5359 on 28 Oct 1889 while observing Comet Brooks (1889V) with the Lick 36-inch refractor. He noted "F, pS, gbM."

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/3/94): faintest of four galaxies in the HCG 97 compact group. Extremely faint, small, very elongated 4:1 NW-SE. Only visible with averted vision and cannot be held steadily. A mag 10 star, just 1.6' WSW, detracts from viewing. Last in a group with IC 5351 4.7' W, IC 5357 3.8' WNW and IC 5356 4' SW.

600/800mm - 24" (9/28/19): at 322x; between very faint and faint, edge-on streak ~6:1 NW-SE, ~50"x8", low even surface brightness, no core. Situated between a mag 10.4 star 1.5' WSW and a mag 9.9 star 3.6' ENE. Due to its low surface brightness, HCG 97B is one of the two most difficult (along with HCG 97E) in the quintet.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb