John Herschel discovered NGC 5550 = h1774 on 4 Apr 1831 and recorded "vF; pmE; 30" l, 15" br. Just comes into the field with 18 Bootis." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 ~E-W, 0.9'x0.6', low surface brightness with a very weak concentration. A mag 14.5 star is at the SW edge, just 27" from center. Located 14' SW of mag 5.4 18 Bootis.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb