William Herschel discovered NGC 5068 = H II-312 on 10 Mar 1785 (sweep 709) and recorded "F, L, iR, brightest in the middle, but very gradually."

Julius Schmidt rediscovered it on 21 Jan 1865, published an offset from a nearby 9th mag star, but thought he had found comet Bruhns (AN 64, 63). The next year (AN 64, 271), he retracted the observation and stated it was probably another comet or nebula. Johann Palisa measured an accurate position on 20 Mar 1884, though referred to it as Schmidt's nebula from 1865, without reference to Herschel's original discovery.

300/350mm - 13.1" (7/5/83): fairly large, diffuse, no definite edges, almost round. NGC 5087 lies 32' NE. Member of the M83/Cen A group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb