John Herschel discovered NGC 3880 = h968 = h975 on 29 Apr 1827 and noted (sweep 74) "vF; R; bM; the second of an unequally divided line of 3 [with NGC 3881 and NGC 3878]." On sweep 337 he only has a rough position for h968 which he assumed was different and logged "eF; R; gbM. The second of 3 [with NGC 3871 and NGC 3881]." So, on both sweeps he missed one of the 4 brighter galaxies here.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/24/90): very faint, small, round, very diffuse, very low surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is off the north end 0.8' from center. Third of four with NGC 3878 2.5' NW and NGC 3881 4' SE. Part of a larger group (USGC U418) with NGC 3855 27' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb