William Herschel discovered NGC 3963 = H IV-67 = h1015 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 951) and recorded "pB, vL, R. The greatest part of it equally bright, then fading away pretty suddenly. Between 2 and 3' dia." His re-reduced position (with respect to 66 UMa) is 20 sec of RA too large, but JH measured a more accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/2/92): moderately bright, moderately large, round, 2' diameter, irregular surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is at the SSW edge of the halo 0.5' from the center. The very small core of the galaxy appears to be just NE of this star. A non-stellar knot is clearly visible with averted vision at the NE edge of the halo.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb