Albert Marth discovered NGC 5960 = m 290 on 12 Apr 1864 and noted "vF, S neb *." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/4/94): faint, small, irregularly round (slightly elongated N-S?), almost even surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is 0.9' NNW of center. A pair of mag 10/11 stars at 57" separation located 7' SE are collinear with NGC 5960.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb