R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 5319 on 27 Mar 1856 at Birr Castle, while observing NGC 5318. He labeled this galaxy "C" on the field sketch and simply noted "vF". Although no separations were estimated, the sketch is accurate enough to identify NGC 5319 = PGC 84061. See NGC 5318 for more on this sketch.

The RNGC and Uranometria Deep Sky Field Guide misidentify MCG +06-30-095 (1.9' NNW of NGC 5318) as NGC 5319. Corwin agrees that NGC 5319 = PGC 84061. Malcolm Thomson disagrees and identifies a faint galaxy 5.2' NNW of NGC 5318 as NGC 5319. See Harold Corwin's NGC identification notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" not seen.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/15/10): easily visible at 510x as a faint, edge-on streak, roughly 4:1 WSW-ENE, ~30"x8". A very faint star is off the ENE tip. Located 3.5' NNE of NGC 5318. A faint pair of galaxies lies ~3' NW.

Several sources misidentify MCG +06-30-095 as NGC 5319. The sketch made with Lord Rosse's 72" clearly shows MCG +06-30-095 and NGC 5319 (3.5' NNE of NGC 5318), but MCG +06-30-095 did not receive a NGC designation as Dreyer may have felt it was part of NGC 5318.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb