Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5919 = Sw. VI-77, along with NGC 5920, on 30 Mar 1887 and recorded "eeF; pS; lE; wide double star near, e difficult; np of 2." His position is 10 sec of time west of CGCG 049-142/144 = PGC 54826. There are at least 6 small nearby galaxies near his position so this identification is not certain, but this is the brightest single galaxy north-preceding NGC 5920 = UGC 9822. Harold Corwin came to the same conclusion regarding the identifications (personal e-mail on 27 Sep 1994).

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/9/94): extremely faint, small, round, 0.3' diameter, very low even surface brightness. Requires averted vision to glimpse although appears to "grow" in size close to 1.0' diameter. On continued observation, the galaxy resolves into a second and possibly a third member very close that pops into view momentarily. It was very difficult, though, to view these simultaneously. One of these glows might be CGCG 049-144, which is 1.2' ENE of NGC 5919. Forms a group (MKW 3s) along with brighter NGC 5920 4' ESE. The POSS reveals six faint galaxies within 2' of this galaxy! Member of AGC 2063.

600/800mm - 24" (6/23/17): at 375x; faint, small, roundish, 15" diameter, low surface brightness and surprisingly faint for an NGC galaxy. Several nearby companions were identified with careful viewing -

CGCG 049-144, 1.2' ENE of NGC 5919, appeared very faint, extremely small, round, only 6"-8" diameter.

PGC 54838, 1.6' NNW of NGC 5919, appeared faint, small, round, 12"-15" diameter, 15th mag stars are 0.8' SSW and 0.8' NNW.

2MASX J15213154+0744254, 1.9' NW of NGC 5919, appeared extremely faint, very small, round, 10" diameter.

2MASX J15213639+0744209, 1.2' N of NGC 5919, appeared extremely faint (V = 16.1) and small, round, 9" diameter. Only occasionally pops with averted vision but sighting repeated several times.

2MASX J15213619+0742369, 0.6' S of NGC 5919, was extremely faint and small, only occasionally glimpsed close south of NGC 5919 [34" between centers].

Notes by Steve Gottlieb