Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 5280 = St XII-54 on 23 May 1881. His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/7/97): faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, weak concentration to a slightly brighter core and faint stellar nucleus. NGC 5277 lies 6' NW and the NGC 5274/5275 pair is ~7' W. A very faint companion 48" SW (MCG +5-32-73) was not seen. The UGC 8692 chain lies 20' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb