Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 5581 = St XIII-74 on 6 May 1883 with the 31-inch reflector at Marseilles Observatory. His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/22/01): faint, small, slightly elongated ~N-S, 0.7'x0.5', very weak concentration, very small brighter core. A mag 14 star is close SSE [40" from center]. Located 5' NNE of a mag 10 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb