Wilhelm Tempel discovered NGC 5424 = T VIII-8 on 25 Apr 1883 while observing the NGC 5416 group. This galaxy, along with the others he discovered in the group, were first mentioned in the narrative portion of list VI, but his published position (VIII-8) matches UGC 8956.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/4/94): fairly faint, round, 1.2' diameter, small bright core. A mag 14 star is 1.0' S. Forms the north vertex of an equilateral triangle with similar NGC 5423 5.0' SSW (although NGC 5424 has a slightly larger halo with averted) and NGC 5431 4.5' SE. NGC 5423 is 5.0' SSW and the double system NGC 5434 is 6.8' ENE. Located within the NGC 5416 cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb