Stephane Javelle found IC 2959 = J. 3-1194 on 11 Jun 1896. His position matches NGC 3871, discovered by John Herschel on 3 Apr 1831 but with a very poor RA. As a result Javelle assumed it was new, although Rudolph Spitaler corrected the RA in 1891 at the Wein Observatory. So, IC 2959 = NGC 3871.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/24/90): very faint, very small, elongated E-W. First of four and forms the west vertex of an equilateral triangle with sides 4' length with NGC 3880 and NGC 3881 to the NE and east and also forms a rhombus using a mag 13 star 3.7' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb