William Herschel discovered NGC 5595 = H III-121 = h1792, along with NGC 5597, on 14 May 1784 (sweep 214) and recorded "Two, both vF and nearly R. The following NGC 5597] which is the most south, is a little larger than the preceding [NGC 5595] but fainter; and is about one minute in dia." I should probably have overlooked it had it not been for the first; their distance is about 5' and position about 10 or 15 degrees sf." John Herschel described this galaxy (sweep 157) as "F; L; R; vglbM; 60 or 80" diam; the first of 2; delta RA = 15s." His position is accurate.

Based on a Franklin-Adams photograph taken in April 1911, H.E. Woods described NGC 5595 as a "spiral nebula; diameter 55", about 12th magnitude." At the Helwan observatory, Knox-Shaw (1924) described it as a "curious single branch spiral, arms being formed of straight portions, absorbed [dust] on s.f. side."

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/18/85): fairly faint, fairly large, diffuse, brighter core, elongated SW-NE. Forms a pair with NGC 5597 4' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb