William Herschel discovered NGC 5696 = H II-648 = h1850 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 718) and noted "vF, vS, lbM." His position was off by 6 seconds of RA to the east and 4' to the north. Dreyer mentioned in his revision of WH's catalogues that WH also saw H. II-648 as well as H. II-675 = NGC 5697 on 9 April 1787 (sweep 725). In this sweep, WH measured NGC 5696 36 seconds preceding and 10' south of NGC 5697. The actual offsets are closer to 25 sec of RA and 8.5' in dec. See Corwin's identifications notes on NGC 5696 and 5697.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/27/98): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 4:3 SW-NE, broad concentration to a roundish core that increases gradually to the center. Outer dimensions increase with averted vision to ~1.4'x1.0'. Forms a pair with NGC 5697 10' SW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb