Edward Holden discovered NGC 5858 on 14 May 1882 with the 15.6-inch Clark refractor at Washburn Observatory. He recorded "F, S, stell Nuc, np GC 4055 [NGC 5861]" and his position is accurate. (Publications of the Washburn Observatory, Vol II, p101)

300/350mm - 13.1" (7/5/83): fairly bright, very small, small bright nucleus. NGC 5861 lies 9.5' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (6/22/17): at 375x; fairly bright, fairly small, elongated 5:3 NW-SE, ~50"x30", fairly high surface brightness, small bright core that increases to a stellar nucleus. A mag 12 star is 1.8' W and a mag 13.7 star is 1.8' ESE. Nearly at midpoint of a line connecting NGC 5861 9.5' SE and IC 1090 9.6' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb