William Herschel discovered NGC 3968 = H II-162 = h1018 on 17 Apr 1784 (sweep 199) and recorded "not vF, pL, iR, r, vlb towards the following part." His position (CH's reduction) is 2.3' southeast of UGC 68985. JH made two observations and logged (sweep 242) "pB; R; vgbM; a * 10m 25° nf, dist 4'-5'."

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/11/02): moderately bright and large, elongated 5:3 SSW-NNE, 2'x1.3'. The halo is pretty diffuse but brightens fairly suddenly to a distinct core and occasional stellar nucleus. Located 2.6' WSW of mag 9.8 SAO 99868 and 3° SE of Denebola. Also two mag 11 stars are 4.5' NNW and 5' N. Together with the mag 9.8 star the galaxy forms the SW vertex of a rectangle with these two mag 11 stars. Forms a close pair with NGC 3973 2.7' NE (missed by John Herschel).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb