William Herschel discovered NGC 5201 = H II-797 on 14 Apr 1789 (sweep 921) and recorded "pF, pS, R, vgbM." His re-reduced position is ~80 tsec too large and 2' south of UGC 8480. A second observation made on 26 Apr 1789 (sweep 929) is more accurate.

400/500mm - 18" (6/21/03): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.6'. Moderate, even concentration to a brighter core and faint stellar nucleus with direct vision. Located 5.7' S of mag 7.4 SAO 28775 (a mag 10 companion is 2' NW of the bright star). NGC 5163 lies 29' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb