William Herschel discovered NGC 5208 = H III-9 = h1627, along with NGC 5209, on 23 Jan 1784 (sweep 108) and recorded "Two very feeble nebula. They are eF." There is nothing at his position (often very rough in his early sweeps) but 1.6 min of RA west is the pair UGC 8519 and UGC 8522. JH made four observations and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/95): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.6'. Even concentration with a bright core and faint stellar nucleus. Appears to a have faint larger halo. Brightest in a trio with NGC 5209 3.7' ENE and NGC 5210 10' SSE.

600/800mm - 24" (6/1/13): moderately bright and large, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.5', well concentrated with a very small, very bright nucleus that increases to the center. NGC 5208 and NGC 5209, located 3.7' ENE, are the brightest members of a small group. CGCG 045-008 (identified in the RNGC as NGC 5212) lies 1.7' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb