William Herschel discovered NGC 5426 = H II-309 = h1734, along with NGC 5427, on 5 Mar 1785 (sweep 380) and recorded "Two, pB, the northern one NGC 5427] cL and mbM. The southern one [NGC 5426] much less, and a little fainter, and a very small star or two between them, but not connected with them. Dist about 4' but the chevelures touch each other; nearly the same meridian [north-south]." His single position is at the northeast edge of NGC 5427. John Herschel made the single observation "the first of 2. Both L; F; vgbM; r; 3' dist' 70° np." See NGC 5428.

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/4/83): faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, small faint nucleus. Forms a close interesting pair with NGC 5427 2.3' N. A mag 13.5 star is 0.9' NNE of center directly between the two galaxies.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb