NGC 5823 appears distinct to the observer, sometimes seen as a reversed "S", as described by John Herschel, although it has also been described as "tulip-shaped" and "boxy".
NGC 5823對觀察者來說相貌獨特，有時會被視為“倒轉的S字形”，而英國天文學家約翰·赫歇爾也是這樣描它的，但是也有人把它描述為“鬱金香形”及“盒子狀”。