William Herschel discovered NGC 5382 = H III-546 = h1715, along with NGC 5386, on 29 Apr 1786 (sweep 557) and recorded "Two, the place taken between them; both vF, vS, r. The situation not far from the meridian; from sp to nf." JH called this galaxy "like a * 15m rubbed out" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/91): fairly faint, very small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, very bright core, stellar nucleus, very small halo. Forms a pair with NGC 5386 5.1' NNE. NGC 5387 lies 12' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb