William Herschel discovered NGC 5406 = H II-699 = h1728 on 16 May 1787 (sweep 738) and noted "F, pL." JH made two observations, logging "vF; S; R; bM" and measured a fairly accurate position.

200/250mm - 8" (5/26/84): faint, small, round. Fairly easy but a mag 6.7 star 7' N interferes with viewing.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/95): moderately bright, slightly elongated ~E-W, 1.5'x1.2'. Weak concentration except for a sharp sub-stellar nucleus that stands out with direct vision. Located 6.9' S of mag 6.7 SAO 63881. NGC 5407 lies 15' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb