Wilhelm Tempel discovered NGC 5796 = T X-1 on 23 May 1884, while observing GC 4007 = NGC 5781 with the 11-inch refractor at the Arcetri Observatory. He mentioned the discovery, calling it a "New Class II nebula with a stellar nucleus" in a short note in 1885AN....113...47T. His micrometric position is very accurate. Francis Leavenworth independently found the galaxy again on 31 May 1886 (Dreyer misattributed Ormond Stone with the rediscovery).

300/350mm - 13" (6/18/85): moderately bright, round, fairly small, small bright core, stellar nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 5793 4.7' S.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/30/00): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 E-W, ~2.5'x1.5' (difficult to judge extent of halo). Contains a striking 30" core that increases to a bright stellar nucleus. Forms a nice pair with NGC 5793 5' S. NGC 5815 lies 20' SE and NGC 5817 is 27' N.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb