Albert Marth discovered NGC 5442 = m 272 on 11 Jan 1865 and noted "vF, vS, iR." His position matches MCG -01-36-006 = PGC 50189.

400/500mm - 18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.5'. Contains a brighter core with very faint extensions. It appeared the PA of the extensions shifted slightly with averted vision. Host to supernova 2001U.

18" (6/18/04): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 0.9'x0.4', appears brighter along its major axis. Situated in the middle of a isosceles triangle of mag 9.5 stars with mag 9.6 SAO 139717 7' N, mag 9.9 SAO 139714 6' SW and mag 9.6 SAO 139732 7' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb