R.J. Mitchell discovered NGC 5341, along with NGC 5349, on 24 Mar 1857 at Birr Castle while observing NGC 5351. He noted "found here 3 nebulae, as shown, all of them are bM." The sketch clearly identifies NGC 5341, 10' west-southwest of NGC 5349 (the actual separation is 9'). But no offsets were measured and the NGC position (estimated by Dreyer) is poor.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/6/86): fairly faint, small, edge-on NNW-SSE, brighter core. NGC 5349 lies 9.2' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb