William Herschel discovered NGC 5797 = H III-678 = h1893, along with NGC 5804, on 15 May 1787 (sweep 736) and recorded "about 3' north and 1/12' of space following [a mag 7 star] is a vF, vS nebula." His position is accurate. JH made the single observation "pF; S; vsbM to a * 13m; the second of 3 in a line [with NGC 5794 and 5804]; a 6.7m star near."

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/93): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, prominent core. Brightest in a group of four galaxies and second of three on a line with NGC 5794 5.3' WNW and NGC 5804 7.2' ESE. Located 4' N of mag 5.6 SAO 45288. NGC 5795 lies 19' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb