William Herschel discovered NGC 5401 = H III-412 = h1725 on 1 May 1785 (sweep 405) and noted "vF, vS." JH made the single observation "F; S; E; bM" and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/2/00): faint but striking edge-on ~4:1 WSW-ENE, 1.0'x0.25'. Sharply concentrated with a small, round core and a stellar nucleus. A mag 12.5 star is 2.5' NW. Located 9' SW of mag 9 SAO 63874.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb