William Herschel discovered NGC 2950 = H IV-68 = h616 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and recorded "vB, S, exactly R, BMN, vF cheveulure very gradually joining to the north. Possibly in a lower situation the chevelure might be invisible, and this nebula put on the appearance of a a very ill defined planetary, one of 6-8 or 10" diam." On 8 Mar 1832 (sweep 404) John Herschel logged, "pB; R; smbM; almost to a star. Has a * 11m 20s p and 15" or 20" N."

400/500mm - 17.5" (3/12/88): bright, very small, almost round, sharp concentration with a very small and very bright core surrounded by a small faint halo. A mag 14.5 star is 0.8' WSW of center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb