John Herschel discovered NGC 5117 = h1592 on 30 Mar 1827 and recorded "vF; L; makes an equilateral triangle with two stars 11m, np." His position and description matches UGC 8411.

400/500mm - 18" (6/21/03): faint, moderately large, elongated ~5:2 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.4'. Forms the southern vertex of a near equilateral triangle with a two mag 12.5 stars 3.0' NNE and 3.6' NW. Very weak concentration but no noticeable core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb