Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 5945 = St XI-35, along with NGC 5934 and 5935, on 12 Jun 1880. His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/21/93): faint, round, 1.2' diameter, gradually brighter halo, small brighter core. Fourth and brightest of five in a group with NGC 5943 8.5' S.

600/800mm - 24" (7/28/16): at 260x; moderately bright and large, round, 1' diameter. Sharply concentrated with a very bright, very small nucleus. A faint bar extends ~N-S from the nucleus. A mag 14.5 star is superimposed on the NNE end and a fainter mag 15-15.5 is on the west side [20" from center]. In a group with NGC 5943 8.5' S, NGC 5934/5935 17' W and NGC 5947 15' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb