William Herschel discovered NGC 5386 = H III-547 = h1716, along with NGC 5382, 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 "a neb like a double star obliterated; pos by diam = 55° or 60°" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/10/91): fairly faint, small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is just off the SW edge. Forms a pair with NGC 5382 5' SSW. NGC 5384 lies 11' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb