William Herschel discovered NGC 5831 = H II-540 = h1899 on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 532) and recorded "pB, S, mbM." His position is at the southeast edge of the halo.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/4/92): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 NW-SE, very bright core, stellar nucleus. A mag 13.5 star is 1.5' NNE of center. Member of the NGC 5846 group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb