Ernst Hartwig discovered NGC 5186 on 29 Jun 1883 with the 18-inch Merz refractor at the Strasbourg Observatory while searching for comet d'Arrest (AN 2688). His position matches CGCG 072-103 = PGC 47426.

400/500mm - 18" (6/4/05): marginal object, very small, round, 0.3' diameter, very low surface brightness. Only glimpsed for moments with averted and concentration but confirmed. Located ~30' NNE of a compact group of 5 NGC galaxies (MKW 11) including NGC 5171.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb