Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5561 = Sw. I-31 on 11 May 1885 and recorded "vvF; pS; R; F * near west." His position is within 20 arcseconds of the center of PGC 2800986, a very compact galaxy. Furthermore, there is a mag 14 star 1' west-northwest matching his description. Nevertheless, PGC, MCG and RC3 misidentify UGC 9151 as NGC 5561. This larger spiral galaxy is located just 2.4' SSW of Swift's position, but has a much lower surface brightness. Because of the misidentification, there is no (low) PGC listing for this galaxy. NGC 5561 is mentioned in the UGC notes to UGC 9151 (separation 2.6'). See Harold Corwin's notes.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/2/00): very faint, small, slightly elongated, 0.4', low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is close NW [57" from center]. Forms a close pair with UGC 9151 2.6' SSW (not seen).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb