William Herschel discovered NGC 5040 = H II-816 on 26 Apr 1789 (sweep 929) and logged "F, S, iR, vgmbM." CH's reduced position is 15 sec of RA east and 1.5' north of CGCG 271-024 = PGC 45945. Sir Robert Ball noted "vS, stellar, bM" at Birr Castle on 1 Mar 1867.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/1/02): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, 0.6'x0.5', contains a small brighter core with a stellar nucleus or a faint star is superimposed. Located 8.3' NNE of mag 9 SAO 28675.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb