Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5205 = Sw. VI-59 on 18 May 1887 and recorded "vF; pS; R; betw 2 vF stars." His position is 2' south of UGC 8501 and his description applies.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/23/98): appears as a fairly large, ill-defined diffuse glow, slightly elongated N-S, 1.5'x1.2', very weak concentration. Situated between mag 13.5/14.5 stars 3' S and 2' N. Two mag 11 stars lie ~8' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb