William Herschel discovered NGC 5305 = H III-621 = h1673 on 17 Mar 1787 (sweep 714) and noted "vF, S, iR, 300 confirmed it." JH made two observations and measured an accurate position on one sweep.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/7/97): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.7', weak concentration. Located 6' SE of mag 7.1 SAO 63747.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb