James Dunlop discovered NGC 3960 = D 349 = h3369 on 30 Apr 1826 and described "a pretty large, faint nebula, 6' or 7' diameter, easily resolvable with slight compression of the stars to the centre, or rather towards the following side of the centre." His position is just 5' south-southeast of center (relatively small error for him). JH only observed this cluster on one sweep (5 Apr 1837) and noted "cluster, VI class, pretty rich, irregular figure, round with long appendages, gradually pretty much brighter to the middle, 9', stars 13th magnitude."

300/350mm - 13.1" (2/20/04 - Costa Rica): roughly 30 fainter stars are resolved in a 6' group over unresolved background haze. The cluster is moderately bright, weakly compressed and rich in faint stars although it does not contain any stars brighter than 12th magnitude! Located 1.5 degrees due north of the "Blue Planetary", NGC 3918. NGC 3882 lies 56' SW. This is an old open cluster with an age of roughly one billion years.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb