William Herschel discovered NGC 5982 = H II-764 = h1934 on 25 May 1788 (sweep 843) and noted "pB, S, iR. A vF [nebula] suspected preceding, lE." Herschel's position is just off the southwest side. John Herschel noted "B; R; psbM; r; 25"." His position is midway between NGC 5982 and 5985 and only a single object was logged, so perhaps the observation was rushed or interrupted.

On 6 May 1850, Lord Rosse's observing assistant George Johnstone Stoney logged "B, condensed oval neb."

300/350mm - 13.1" (5/14/83): fairly bright, small, small bright nucleus, slightly elongated E-W. In a trio with NGC 5981 and NGC 5985.

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/28/87): fairly bright, fairly small, bright round core, stellar nucleus, fainter halo elongated 3:2 ~E-W. Second of a striking trio with NGC 5981 6.4' WNW and NGC 5985 7.5' ESE.

600/800mm - 24" (5/29/14): bright, moderately large, elongated 5:4 WNW-ESE, sharply concentrated with a high surface brightness intense core that increases to a stellar nucleus. The halo extends up to 1.6'x1.3'. Second in the Draco triplet with edge-on NGC 5981 6.3' WNW and spiral NGC 5985 7.5' ESE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb