John Herschel discovered NGC 1963 = h2861 on 24 Dec 1835 and described "the cusp of a cluster of stars, 8...11m; arranged pretty exactly in a figure of 3 with appendages. *8 in cusp taken." This group of stars stands out fairly well on the DSS although the brightest star is closer to mag 10. This is a random grouping with no correlation in proper motion. The RC3 and PGC misidentify the galaxy IC 2135 (~15' further east) as NGC 1963. RNGC classifies NGC 1963 as nonexistent.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/22/03): at 100x, a distinctive looping group of two dozen mag 10-13 stars which is likely an asterism. Roughly 10' diameter with a string of stars on the south side trailing to the east (forming the bottom loop of the figure "3"). Includes several mag 10-11 stars with two mag 8 stars (oriented N-S) on the north side of the low power field. IC 2135, an edge-on galaxy, lies 15' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb