Lewis Swift discovered IC 959 = Sw. VIII-79 on 20 Apr 1889 and reported "eeF; S; R." His position was just off the northeast edge of UGC 8848 and there are no other nearby brighter galaxies that he might have found instead.

600/800mm - 24" (6/30/19): at 375x; moderately bright and large, elongated 3:2 N-S, 45"x30", small bright core. A mag 12.4 star is 3.3' E and a 1' pair of mag 11/12.3 stars is 4.5' NE. Located 33' S of mag 6.2 HD 121560.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb