William Herschel discovered NGC 2968 = H II-491 = h624, along with NGC 2964, on 7 Dec 1785 (sweep 487) and logged "pB, pL, iF, lbM." John Herschel observed the galaxy on 4 sweeps and 14 observations were made at Birr Castle.

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/23/85): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, weak concentration. Second of three on a line with NGC 2970 5.1' NE and NGC 2964 5.8' NW.

600/800mm - 24" (2/22/14): at 260x; fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 5:3 SW-NE, 1.2'x0.7', sharply concentrated with a very bright, small elongated core. There appears to be a mottled or knotty section just northeast of the core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb