William Herschel discovered NGC 5180 = H III-71 = h1615 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 182) and recorded "three small stars with suspected nebulosity between them. 240 shows the same but it amount not to a confirmation. 10 or 12' north of it is a very bright star." His position is poor and the bright star is 6' northeast. John Herschel noted "F; S; R; 15"; has a *7 mag nf, 8' dist." and measured an accurate position. The Slough Catalogue entry for h1615, equates with H. III-71, instead of II-71 as listed.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/30/92): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated 4:3 SSW-NNE, 0.8'x0.6', small bright core, stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star is just off the SE edge 20" from center. Located 6' SW of mag 7.4 SAO 100597. NGC 5172 lies 14' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb