Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 5815 = LM 1-219 on 15 Feb 1886 and recorded "mag 15.0, 0.8' E 10°. Faint double star(?) involved in neb." His rough position is 1.2 minutes of RA east of MCG -03-38-044 and his position angle of 10° fits this galaxy. Herbert Howe reported in his series of NGC observations in the late 1890's that "I could not find any nebula in the NGC place for this, but 100 seconds preceding was a nebula which answered the description of 5815, except that I saw no 'D * involved.' But the seeing was not very good." His micrometric position was accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" faint, small, round, 0.6' diameter (only viewed core), weak concentration. A mag 12.5 star lies 1.4' NNE of center. Located 20' SE of NGC 5796.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb