William Herschel discovered NGC 2965 = H III-751 = h623 on 31 Dec 1788 (sweep 902) and logged "eF, S, doubtful, not having been out long enough." On a second sweep in Feb 1789 he recorded "eF, vS, 300x confirmed it." John Herschel gave an unusual description from 11 Mar 1831 (sweep 331): "vF, R, bM, filamentous (i.e. as if filaments hung round it; an effect probably of diverging lines of small stars, as in M13...)." There are some faint companions on the south side which he may have glimpsed. Both WH and JH missed nearby NGC 2971, which was discovered by Stephan with the 31" at Marseilles.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/18/98): fairly faint, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 1.2'x0.8', gradually increases to a brighter and nucleus with direct vision. Located 3.5' NNE of a mag 11.5 star. Brightest in a group including CGCG 181-084 5.5' WSW and NGC 2971 6.8' SE (see descriptions), although fainter companions off the south side were not seen.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb