William Herschel discovered NGC 5227 = H III-928 = h1641 on 13 May 1793 (sweep 1044) and noted "vF, S." His position is good. JH made the single observation "vF; R" and did not measure a position. Ralph Copeland, while an observing assistant at Birr Castle on 22 Mar 1874, noted "vF, pS, R, gmbM, inside a triangle of small stars."

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/8/02): fairly faint, moderately large, round, 1.2' diameter, gradually increases to a 20" core. Surrounded by a small isosceles triangle of stars with a mag 14.5 star 1.8' NW, mag 15 star 1.3' SW and a mag 14 star 2.1' E!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb