Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5941 = Sw. VI-83, along with NGC 5940/42/44, on 19 Apr 1887 and recorded "eeeF; S; R; ee diff; 2nd of 4." NGC 5941/42/44 refer to 3 of the 4 members of HCG 76. Unfortunately his positions were not accurate enough to easily pin down the identities. Modern catalogues identify NGC 5941 = HCG 76C, NGC 5942 = HCG 76D and NGC 5944 = HCG 76A. That leaves HCG 76B without an NGC number, although visually I found it the most prominent in the group visually, so Swift would not have likely missed it.

Based on correspondence with Corwin, he agrees that NGC 5941 = HCG 76B, and all modern catalogues are incorrect. Corwin also suggests NGC 5942 = HCG 76C and NGC 5944 = HCG 76A. These agree with Bigourdan's assignments (he picked up 3 members) and leaves HCG 76D without a number. See Harold Corwin's identification notes for the full story.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/7/94): faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE, 0.7'x0.5', weak concentration to a brighter core, faint stellar nucleus. This is the brightest galaxy in HCG 76 with NGC 5944 2.6' SE, MCG +01-40-002 = HCG 76d and NGC 5942 1.8' SSW. This galaxy is not identified as NGC 5941 in any modern catalogue.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/20/17): at 375x; moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.4'x0.3', round, small bright core. Forms a very close pair with HCG 76F 15" SW. The companion appeared faint, very small, round, 10" diameter and was barely resolved off the southwest side. NGC 5941 is one of the three brightest members of HCG 76. HCG 76G, situated just 1.2' NW, appeared extremely to very faint, thin ghostly streak with averted, ~8:1 NW-SE, ~40"x5", low even surface brightness.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb