William Herschel discovered NGC 2976 = H I-285 = h625 on 8 Nov 1801 (sweep 1100) and recorded "vB, vL, E from np to sf, about 6' l and 2' br." John Herschel made a single observation on 2 Apr 1832 (sweep 411): "B; vL; mE in pos = 332.4°; vgvlbM, 3' l, 1' br; has several S stars in in, and one 12m nearly at right angles to the axis of extension." Several involved stars or nearby stars were micrometrically measured at Birr Castle.

200/250mm - 8" moderately bright, fairly large, elongated, even surface brightness.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/91): bright, large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 4.5'x2.0', large brighter center but no core, mottled with an irregular patchy surface brightness. A mag 13 star is at the west edge 1.0' from the center and a mag 14 star is just off the NW edge 2.6' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb