Stephane Javelle discovered IC 2981 = J. 3-1202, along with IC 2979, on 12 Jun 1896. He used the same comparison star (BD +33 2172) for IC 2979 for which there was a one degree error its north polar distance, but after making this correction there is nothing at the position for IC 2981. None of the major galaxy catalogues include a listing for IC 2981 except for MOL (Master Optical List) and NGC 2000 (at the incorrect IC declination). However, Corwin found that reversing the sign of the RA offset points directly at CGCG 157-056 = PGC 37462. This identification is given here.

To further confuse the issue, PGC 37462 is misidentified as NGC 3966 in RNGC, MCG, CGCG and PGC. Max Wolf suggested that Heinrich d'Arrest's single position was 30 seconds off in RA. His "corrected" position is given in the IC 2 Notes and matches PGC 37462. But Harold Corwin (e-mail from 3/6/98) found that d'Arrest's description did not match this galaxy, particularly the nearby mag 12-13 star. d'Arrest mentions he was searching for h1027 = NGC 3986, and this galaxy matches his description of the nearby star! So, despite a poor match in RA and Dec, NGC 3966 = NGC 3986, instead.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/24/90): very faint, very small, round. Two mag 13/14 stars are 1.3' W. Member of the NGC 3995 group. Incorrectly identified as NGC 3966 in modern sources.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb