William Herschel discovered NGC 2980 = H III-528 = h632 on 27 Mar 1786 (sweep 547) and logged "vF; L; E nearly in the meridian." His position was 6 seconds of RA too far east. John Herschel made two observations, though only one good position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/15/93): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, broad weak concentration. Pair with NGC 2978 8' S.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb