William Herschel discovered NGC 5481 = H II-693, along with NGC 5480, on 15 May 1787 (sweep 736) and described both as "Two, both F, R. The preceding pS, vgbM. The following vS, stellar, suddenly mbM. The place taken between them; in the parallel nearly, about 2 1/2' distance; the following about 1/2' more south." CH's reduction is much closer to NGC 5481. Bigourdan measured an accurate RA on 12 Jun 1887 (repeated in the IC 2 notes).

300/350mm - 13.1" (3/24/84): faint, very small, slightly elongated, possible faint stellar nucleus. Smaller but similar surface brightness to NGC 5480 3.2' W in the constellation of Ursa Major!

400/500mm - 18" (4/26/08): moderately bright but small, round, ~30" diameter. Fairly high surface brightness with a relatively large, bright 20" core and easily visible stellar nucleus. Forms the eastern member of a pair with NGC 5480 3.2' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb