John Herschel discovered NGC 5501 = h1756 on 13 Apr 1828 and recorded "a vF nebula or a vS cluster of eS stars." His position is 1' south of CGCG 018-078 = PGC 50724.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/02): very faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, 0.5'x0.4', low surface brightness. Located 13.5' SE of mag 6.4 SAO 120334. A pair of mag 10 stars (24" separation) is located 10' due east. IC 985 lies 13' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb