William Herschel discovered NGC 5379 = H I-239 on 24 Apr 1789 (sweep 926), along with NGC 5389, and recorded "pB, E, S." His position matches UGC 8860.
400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/95): faint, very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE, 1.2'x0.4', weak concentration. Forms a pair with NGC 5389 4.1' E.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb