William Herschel discovered NGC 5149 = H III-404 = h1604, along with NGC 5154, on 1 May 1785 (sweep 405) and recorded "two, the time is that of the preceding; the second about 5 or 6' nf, both pS." JH made two observations and noted (sweep 72) "pB; bM; the sp of 2."

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/15/99): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.7'. Contains a brighter core with fainter extensions that seem slightly offset from the central region. A mag 14.5-15 star is superimposed on the north edge [51" from center]. A mag 11 star lies 4' SW. Forms a pair with NGC 5154 6' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb