The NGC identification is uncertain and may apply to this galaxy or ESO 580-014 = MCG -03-38-001. ESO 580-014 appeared very low surface brightness, moderately large. Appears as a 1' very hazy glow with no core. Picked up while viewing NGC 5726 14' WNW.

Ormond Stone discovered NGC 5744 = LM 1-210 in 1886 with the 26-inch refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 15.5, 0.2' dia, neb?" His rough position (nearest min of RA) is 1.5 min of RA east of ESO 580-014 but also 1.4 min of RA west of ESO 580-023, so either galaxy is a candidate. But his description is a better fit with ESO 580-023, based on my visual observation. ESGC identifies ESO 580-023 as NGC 5744.

400/500mm - 18" (5/29/05): faint, very small, round, 0.4' diameter. No details were visible in this small galaxy. A striking 1.3' string of 3 stars lies 10' E with mag 9.3 HD 130194 at the north end. NGC 5744 is listed as nonexistent in the RNGC.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb