William Herschel discovered NGC 5164 = H III-784 = h1609 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 921) and noted "cF, S, iR." His position is within 2' of UGC 8458 (within usual errors).

400/500mm - 18" (6/21/03): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SSW-NNE, 0.7'x0.5', broad concentration to a brighter middle. At times the core appears irregular -- either a stellar core or a superimposed star was glimpsed. [Based on the DSS image, it's clear I viewed the stellar nucleus]. Located 44' NE of Mizar!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb