William Herschel discovered NGC 5490 = H III-32 = h1752 on 14 Mar 1784 (sweep 170) and recorded "a vS nebula, or nebulous double star. 240 confirmed it." John Herschel made a similar observation on 17 Mar 1831 (sweep 334): "pB, vS, has a vF double star in centre among several stars 12m; a doubtful object." His position matches this galaxy, though the Slough Catalogue has a typo h1752 = H. II-32, instead of H. III-32.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/23/01): moderately bright, moderately large, slightly elongated N-S, bright core, stellar nucleus. Brightest in a group with MCG +03-36-064 2.9' NNW and NGC 5490C = Arp 79 located 4.7' NE. A close companion, MCG +03-36-067, off the east side not seen. The group is located two degrees SW of Arcturus!

17.5" (5/23/98): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, small bright core. Brightest in a small group with several faint nearby companions (not seen), IC 983 11' N and IC 982 9' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb