John Herschel discovered NGC 5266 = h3529 on 1 Jul 1834 and recorded "B; R; vglbM; 45"; has 3 stars 14m near." His mean position (2 observations) is accurate.

400/500mm - 20" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 212x, moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, 1.0'x0.7'. Sharply concentrated with a very small, very bright nucleus. With careful viewing a very faint, low surface brightness outer halo reached two mag 13.5 stars on the south side, increasing the diameter to 2.0'x1.3'. This galaxy is an unusual "dust lane elliptical" or polar ring galaxy.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb