William Herschel discovered NGC 5714 = H III-675 = h1861 on 12 May 1787 (sweep 734) and recorded "vF, iF, pS, sp two small unequal stars." His position is 1.5' too far north, but clearly applies to UGC 9431. JH recorded "vF; E; 40" l; south of a coarse double star; the preceding of 2 [should be 3, with NGC 5717 and 5722]." JH mistakenly assumed this was a new object, and applied his father's III-675 to h1864 = NGC 5717.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/27/98): faint, edge-on streak oriented WSW-ENE. The tips of the extensions dissolve gradually into the background. Located 1' S of an unequal pair of mag 11/13 stars at 40" separation. NGC 5714 is the first (furthest west) and brightest of group of 6 faint galaxies, of which 5 were viewed. Next in the group is NGC 5717, 4.7' ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb