William Herschel discovered NGC 5852 = H III-887, along with NGC 5851, on 26 May 1791 (sweep 1001) and described both as "Two, eF, vS, about 1 1/2' distance from each other; the preceding is the most north. 300 shewed them very plainly."

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/2/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, small bright core. Forms a very close pair with NGC 5851 1.0' NW. Member of the NGC 5837 group.

600/800mm - 24" (6/13/15): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, ~0.5'x0.4', small bright core increases to the center. Third in a trio with NGC 5851 1.1' NW and CGCG 077-007 2.5' W.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb