William Herschel discovered NGC 5016 = H II-356 on 10 Apr 1785 (sweep 394) and recorded "pB, S." His position is 15 sec of RA too far west and 3' too far south. d'Arrest's micrometric position (used in the NGC) matches UGC 8279.

200/250mm - 8" (5/21/82): fairly faint, round, moderately large. Located 10' S of mag 6.3 SAO 82707 that interferes with viewing.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/13/96): moderately bright, roundish, moderately large, 2.0' diameter, broad concentration. A mag 13.5 star is 1.3' N of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb