Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 5742 = LM 1-208, along with NGC 5741, on 12 Jun 1885 and recorded "mag 12.0, pS, pmE, gbMN, envelope mag 15.0." His rough position (nearest min of RA) was 40 seconds of RA too small. Ormond Stone's corrected position, repeated in the IC 1 notes, is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" fairly faint/moderately bright, round, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 1.0'x0.8', bright core. A mag 14 star lies 1.3' SSW. Forms a pair with NGC 5741 7.3' SE.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/9/18): at 375x; fairly bright, moderately large, oval 2:1 or 5:2 WSW-ENE, ~1.0'x0.4'. Strong concentration with a prominent core and a bright stellar nucleus. A mag 16.8 star is off the south edge. A pair of galaxies, LEDA 961733 (slightly brighter) and LEDA 961698 is 2' NW. Both are very faint, small, round, 12" diameter and separated by 28" WNW-ESE. A mag 15.3 star close WNW is collinear with the pair.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb