William Herschel discovered NGC 5523 = H III-134 = h1762 on 19 May 1784 (sweep 220) and recorded "eF, pL, lE, r, 2 or 3 stars visible in it. The nebula is nf a pB star." His position is 5' too far north. JH logged (sweep 425) "pB; pL; mE; 2' l, 30" br." and measured an accurate position.

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/4/83): faint, edge-on streak ~E-W, moderately large, almost even surface brightness. Located 2.6' SE of a mag 10.5 star. NGC 5548 lies 45' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb