William Herschel discovered NGC 5207 = H III-643 = h1626 on 19 Mar 1787 (sweep 720) and recorded "vF, S, just sf a star, which is partly included in the nebulosity." CH's reduction is 1.4' north of UGC 8518. JH logged this galaxy as "a faint oval wisp attached to a * 11m."

Three observations were made at Birr Castle. On 3 May 1856, R.J. Mitchell noted "about 5' nf is a vF nebulous knot." At this offset from NGC 5207 is CGCG 073-021 = PGC 47648, which did not receive a NGC designation.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/95): fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.6', broad concentration with no distinct core. A mag 11 star is just off the NW edge 44" from the center.

600/800mm - 24" (7/2/16): at 260x; moderately bright, fairly small, oval 4:3 or 3:2 NW-SE, 0.9'x0.6', brighter core with a stellar nucleus. A mag 12 star is 0.7' NW, just off the edge.

CGCG 073-021, discovered by Lord Rosse's observer in 1856, lies 5' NE. The companion appeared very faint and small, slightly elongated ~E-W, ~12"x9".

Notes by Steve Gottlieb