Albert Marth discovered NGC 5983 = m 292 on 25 Mar 1865 and noted "eF, eS, R, vlbM." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/4/94): faint, small, weak concentration, faint stellar nucleus, diffuse halo that fades into background without a distinct edge. A mag 13 star is 1.2' WNW. A group of bright stars follows within 8' including three mag 9.5-10.5 stars and three mag 11.5-12 stars; the nearest two are a mag 10.5 star 2.9' NE and a mag 11.5 star 3.2' SE. In addition, mag 8.6 SAO 121148 is 12.7' SSE at edge of field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb