William Herschel discovered NGC 5015 = H II-637 = h1552 on 11 Mar 1787 (sweep 709) and logged "F, cL, iR, lbM. The time not accurate." Interestingly, his position (CH's reduction) is accurate in RA and 4' too far south (previous nebulae in the sweep are also offset 2'-4' too far south).

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, weak concentration, low surface brightness. A mag 11 star is 4.3' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb