William Herschel discovered NGC 5112 = H II-646 = h1589 on 17 Mar 1787 (sweep 714) and recorded "pB, L, iF; unequally bright, among scattered stars, 3 or 4' dia."

R.J. Mitchell sketched the galaxy in 1856 and 1857 (see LdR's 1861 publication) and noted "sf branch doubtful." On 19 Apr 1857 he added "the bend in p end quite easily seen, the F neby towards the star sf is not nearly so certain."

200/250mm - 8" (5/21/82): diffuse, elongated NW-SE. Located 10' S of a mag 7 star.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/6/86): this unusual galaxy appears moderately bright, generally elongated NW-SE but the brighter core is offset east of center. A mag 12.5 star is at the southeast edge, 1.1' from the center. Located 9.8' SSE of mag 7.2 SAO 63494. NGC 5107 lies 13' SSW. Member of the NGC 5033 Group (LGG 334).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb