William Herschel discovered NGC 5812 = H I-71 = h3587 on 5 Mar 1785 (sweep 380) and recorded "cB, but vS, almost stellar; the brightness diminishing insensibly and breaking off pretty abruptly. The whole together is not more than about 7 or 8" in diameter." A second observation, made on a "remarkably clear morning" states "the greatest brightness is towards the following side, and that the very faint nebulosity extends to near a minute."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): fairly bright, fairly small, round, 1' diameter to halo, gradually increases to a prominent core containing an almost stellar nucleus. Located 20' WNW of mag 6.4 SAO 140281. Forms a close pair with IC 1084 4.8' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb