Wilhelm Tempel discovered NGC 3959 = T V-11, along with NGC 3967, on 19 May 1881 and noted "between two star mag 14 and 16.". His micrometric position (measured twice) matches MCG -01-30-046 = PGC 37363, as the comment clinches the identification.

400/500mm - 17.5" (4/15/93): faint, small, round, small bright core. Located midway between a mag 13 star 30" off the SE edge and a mag 13.5 star 30" off the NW edge. Forms a pair with NGC 3967 10' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb