William Herschel discovered NGC 5610 = H III-136 = h1802 on 19 May 1784 (sweep 220) and recorded "eF, vS, E. Like two stellar nebula very near each other. 240 showed the same; though there remains a possibility of a deception." He reobserved this galaxy on 10 Apr 1785 (sweep 394) and noted "vF, S, E nearly in the parallel." JH made a more detailed description (sweep 425), "pF; pmE; gbM; 30"; a star 9m follows 20s in the parallel." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/96): fairly faint, nearly edge-on 4:1 WNW-ESE, 1.5'x0.4', moderate surface brightness with no concentration. A mag 10 star follows by 5.6'. Member of a small group (LGG 381), along with NGC 5548 and 5559.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb