very elongated N to S, 2' x 40", with evident but little contrasting bulge (it was easily observable even in the 10") - 450x.
William Herschel discovered NGC 5899 = H II-650 = h1914 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 718) and recorded "pB, E, near 2' l and 1/4' br." His RA was 30 tsec to large. On 9 Apr 1787 (sweep 725) he noted "pB almost cB, BNM." A 3rd observation on 12 Apr 1788 (sweep 831) states "pB, E, a pBN with faint branches about 1 1/2' long." JH made two observations and measured an accurate RA. The observation at Birr Castle on 25 Apr 1849 mentions "Dark space nf nucleus??" The dark space is a gap between the core and the spiral arm on the north following end of the galaxy.
400/500mm - 17.5" (7/12/99): moderately bright, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, ~2.5'x0.8'. Gradually increases to a bright, elongated core. Embedded in the core is a brighter quasi-stellar nucleus. Follows a string of three stars including a mag 10.5 star 3.3' NW and two mag 12/14 stars. Just off the edge of the field is mag 6 SAO 45445 situated 12' NW. Brightest in a group with NGC 5893 and NGC 5895/96.
17.5" (5/2/92): brightest in a group with NGC 5900 10' N, NGC 5893 17' WSW and NGC 5895/NGC 5896 12' WSW. Fairly bright, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, 3.0'x1.0', small bright core. A knot or faint star is embedded in the southern extension. Forms the east vertex of a triangle with a mag 10 star 3.4' NW and a mag 11.5 star 3.8' W. Located 12' SE of mag 6.1 SAO 45445 at the edge of the 220x field.
600/800mm - 24" (6/21/20): at 375x; fairly bright, large, very elongated nearly 3:1 SSW-NNE, 2.2'x0.8' strong concentration with a bright elongated core that rises to a stellar peak. Two spiral arms were evident; one extending north along the NE flank of the halo and other extending south on the SW flank of the halo. Both appeared as thin, nearly linear arcs in the halo with a sharp outer edge. The inner edge of the arcs (arms) were less defined as they blended into the halo on the north and south side. NGC 5899 forms a pair with NGC 5900 10' N. Located 12' SE of mag 6.1 HD 135530.
Notes by Steve Gottlieb