William Herschel discovered NGC 3949 = H I-202 = h1009 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 808) and logged "pB or cB, pS, lE." JH made two observations, first logging "B; mE; vgbM." Nearby NGC 3950 was found at Birr Castle.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/7/89): bright, fairly large, oval NW-SE, broad concentration, substellar nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 3950 1.8' N (appears stellar). A mag 15 star lies 3.0' NE of center. Member of the NGC 3877 subgroup of the M109 group = LGG 258.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb