William Herschel discovered NGC 5912 = H III-944 on 12 Dec 1797 (sweep 1070) and recorded "Two, both vF and vS. The place is that of the last [NGC 5912]. The first [NGC 5909] precedes it at the distance of about 1 1/2' and is in the same parallel. 320 showed the same. r." CH's reduced position is 1.5' south of this pair of galaxies.

The declination for NGC 5912 and 5909 in the UGC, CGCG, RNGC and the first edition of the Uranometria 2000 atlas is 14' too far south.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/93): slightly brighter of pair with NGC 5909 just 48" W. Fairly faint, fairly small, round, 45" diameter, bright core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb