Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 5802 = LM 1-216, along with NGC 5801 and 5803, on 10 Jun 1885. He noted "vF, vS, sbM, 2nd of 3. Brightest and most nebulous of the three." Herbert Howe measured an accurate micrometric position around 1900 at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver (repeated in the IC 2 Notes section).

400/500mm - 17.5" second and brightest of three in a group with NGC 5801 1.5' NW and an anonymous galaxy 5.2' ESE. Very faint, very small, round, small brighter core. A mag 15 star is 1' S. NGC 5803 1.9' NNE not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb