William Herschel discovered NGC 5913 = H III-374 = h1918 = h3599 on 14 Apr 1785 (sweep 400) and recorded "eF, pL, r." His position is at the north edge of UGC 9818. From the Cape of Good Hope, JH logged "vF; lE; gbM; 25" l, 20" br."

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/9/94): faint, moderately large, low irregular surface brightness. Poorly defined edge makes shape difficult to clearly determine but appears elongated 4:3 roughly N-S. Halo increases with averted to 1.4'x1.1'. A mag 14 star is 1.7' E of center. Located 10' SSE of mag 6.4 SAO 140473.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb