John Herschel discovered NGC 2115 = h2976 on 4 Jan 1837. His position and description ("eeF; vS; nf a triangle of stars 10m which form part of a bright group") matches ESO 205-006 (double system). Classified as an "Unverified southern object" in the RNGC.

300/350mm - 14" (4/7/16 - Coonabarabran, 178x): fairly faint, small, round, 20" diameter, occasional faint stellar nucleus. Located just north of a bright asterism of a half-dozen stars; mag 9.0 HD 39625 is 5' SW, mag 9 HD 39606 8.6' SSW, mag 10 star 3.5' SE, mag 11/12/11 triple at 5"/24" is 3' S. Located 49' NE of mag 3.8 Beta Pictoris. A faint companion (NGC 2115A) off the south side was not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb