Hermann Kobold discovered IC 3957 = K. 2-12 on 12 May 1896 with the 18-inch refractor at Strasbourg and recorded "cF, vS, R, bM."

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/28/90): extremely faint and small, round. In a close trio with IC 3959 1.0' N and IC 3963 1.4' ENE within AGC 1656.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/10/18): at 610x; moderately bright, fairly small, round, 0.3' diameter, very small bright nucleus. Forms the SW vertex of a small triangle with similar IC 5959 and IC 3963. LEDA 1817584 is close off the NW side [18" from center]. The companion was faint (V = 16.8), very small, round, 0.2' diameter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb