William Herschel discovered NGC 5713 = H I-182 = h1857 on 11 Apr 1787 (sweep 727) and noted "cB, pL, iR." JH made the single observation "B; R; psbM; r; 20"." d'Arrest measured this galaxy on 6 nights, so the NGC position is accurate. At Birr Castle, Bindon Stoney logged on 13 Apr 1852 "[NGC 5713] is gbM, a faint indication of spirality??" NGC 5651, discovered by George Bond at Harvard in 1853, is a duplicate observation. See that number.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/13/91): fairly bright, moderately large, slightly elongated 4:3 E-W, broad concentration, asymmetric appearance. The brightest portion of the core seems offset to the west. The halo appears irregular and weaker on the south side. Forms a pair with NGC 5719 11' ESE. On the POSS, a single spiral arm winds from SW to NE but is absent on the south side.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb