William Herschel discovered NGC 5009 = H III-820 = h1550 on 26 Apr 1789 (sweep 929) and recorded "2 vS stars with vF nebulosity between them, less than 1' distance." CH's reduced position is 45 sec of time east of UGC 8258. JH logged "eF; R; south-preceding a * 15m" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 18" (7/1/03): faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SSW-NNE, 0.7'x0.5', broad concentration to a brighter core. A mag 14 is close off the north side, 40" from the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb