John Herschel discovered NGC 5521 = h1761 on 10 Apr 1828 and recorded "F; S; R; bM; 15"." His single position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/1/02): very faint, very small, round, just 15" diameter. Appears to have a fairly sharp stellar nucleus surrounded by a small halo. Located between a mag 11.5 star 2.5' S and a similar star 5' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb