Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 2966 = St XIII-49 on 16 Mar 1884 and recorded "vF* in vF, lE neby east-west, F* precedes 2 sec of RA" His position and description matches UGC 5181.

400/500mm - 17.5" 1/31/87): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated WSW-ENE, unusual appearance. A mag 13 star is attached at the NW end 30" from center and a faint star is west of the core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb