Albert Marth discovered NGC 5811 = m 285 on 12 Apr 1864 and noted "vF, S, iR." His position is 1' north of CGCG 020-043 = PGC 53597. This is an overlapping double system.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): very faint, small, elongated 4:3 E-W, low even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is 1.8' SW of center. Member of the NGC 5846 group with NGC 5814 12' E and NGC 5813 11' NE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb