William Herschel discovered NGC 5879 = H II-757 = h1910 on 5 May 1788 (sweep 842). His RA (determined in sweep 843) is 45 sec too small. JH reported "B; irr R with ray-like appendages; gbM; r; 30"." His position (used in the GC and NGC) is accurate.

200/250mm - 8" (6/19/82): faint, very elongated N-S, thin, small bright nucleus. A mag 7 star is 7' NW.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/15/93): fairly bright, fairly large, very elongated 3:1 in PA 0°, 3.0'x1.0'. Contains a prominent elongated core with a faint stellar nucleus. The fainter elongated halo also extends the minor axis. A mag 14 star is at the west edge 0.7' from the center. Located 7.5' SE of mag 7.2 SAO 29427.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb