George Johnstone Stoney, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 5867 on 25 Apr 1851. While observing NGC 5866 he noted "alpha [on field sketch] is an eeF neb." The sketch clearly points to NGC 5867 = 2MASX J15062441+5543543. Four years later (13 Apr 1855), R.J. Mitchell recorded "the nova alpha seems to a real neb." RNGC and NGC 2000.0 misclassify NGC 5867 as nonexistent (Type 7)

400/500mm - 18" (7/13/07): after a couple of failed attempts I picked up this extremely faint companion located 2' S of center to NGC 5866 and 1' SE of a mag 12 star. I first took a look in Alvin Huey's 22" to check the relative position and appearance. Then in my Starmaster at 262x I glimpsed an extremely faint, barely non-stellar knot, ~6" diameter, that required averted and was only visible for moments at a time. The observation was repeatable, though, and confirmed in excellent conditions at the Lassen Peak parking lot.

600/800mm - 24" (7/6/13): extremely faint to very faint, extremely small, round, 6"-8" diameter. Once identified, I could hold this galaxy continuously with averted at 320x. Situated 2.0' SSW the center of NGC 5866 and 1.0' SSE of a mag 12.2 star. It is also just south of the line connecting the mag 12.2 star and a mag 14 star 3.3' further SE.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/30/19): at 545x; fairly faint, small, round, 15" diameter. Picked up 2' SE of NGC 5866 in excellent conditions (SQM 21.9+ skies).

48" (4/21/17): at 697x; faint to fairly faint, very small, round, 10" diameter. Located 2.0' SE of the center of NGC 5866, though lies far in the background. A mag 12.2 star is 1' NNW. This galaxy is one of the 10 faintest in the NGC.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb