Frank Muller discovered NGC 2956 = LM 2-415 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 12.0, 0.4' dia, R, *9.5 at 3.8' in PA 130° [SE]." His position is 3.8' south of ESO 565-034 = PGC 27531 and the description of the nearby star matches.

400/500mm - 18" (2/23/06): extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Forms the western vertex of an equilateral triangle with sides of length 3' with a mag 10 star to the ENE and a mag 11 star to the SE. I couldn't hold this galaxy steadily using averted vision. The DSS reveals faint extensions to the SW and NE that were not visible.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb