Albert Marth discovered NGC 5973 = m 291 on 26 May 1864 and noted "F, vS, iR." His position, which he verified, matches PGC 55757.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/00): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 0.6'x0.3'. Weak concentration to an irregular brighter center. The DSS image shows an edge-on with a star superimposed close to the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb