George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's assistant, discovered NGC 5296 on 3 May 1850. While observing NGC 5297 he noted "another nebula, R, bM, sp [of NGC 5297]." On a later observation at Birr Castle, a position angle of 216.5° was measured and a distance of 1/3 the length of NGC 5297 was estimated.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/2/00): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. At moments appears elongated 3:2 ~N-S, 0.5'x0.3'. Situated just off the SW side of NGC 5297 (1.5' from center).

17.5" (6/7/97): located 1.5' SW of NGC 5301. Appears very faint, very small, round, 30" diameter. Appears elongated at times but extensions very faint so difficult to determine orientation.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb