Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5988 = Sw. VI-86 on 17 Apr 1887 and recorded "eeF: pS; R; F * nr north; D * sf." His position is 11 sec of time west and 1.6' north of UGC 9998, but his description is a perfect match.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/00): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter (viewed core only). Situated just 0.8' S of a mag 12.5 star and 4' SE of a mag 10.5 star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb