William Herschel discovered NGC 5665 = H II-27 = h1833 on 30 Jan 1784 (sweep 134) and recorded "a nebula following the large star under Bootis not marked in H." Caroline added the comment in her sweep copy that "the nebula is pB and not very small; is not cometic; nor is it equally bright throughout, so that it is probably resolvable." John Herschel made 2 observations and on 9 May 1828 (sweep 153) wrote, "pB; R; gbM; 30"."

200/250mm - 8" (4/24/82): faint, small, slightly elongated N-S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/24/95): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 1.6'x1.2', broad concentration to a very ill-defined core. A mag 11 star lies 5.3' ESE of center and a brighter mag 10 star 8.8' ENE.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/16/12): at 488x, this irregular galaxy (Arp 49) appeared bright, moderately large, irregularly round, ~1.3'x1.0', broad concentration but no distinct core. The galaxy has a mottled appearance and seems dusty or patchy. A very faint, large extension or halo is on the east and southeast side and an extremely faint HII knot (identified as NGC 5665A in NED) is at the east end.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb