John Herschel discovered NGC 5968 = h3609 on 3 Jun 1834 and recorded "vF; L; R; gbM; r; 90"." His single position is accurate.

Based on photographs taken at the Helwan Observatory in Egypt in 1919-20 with the Reynolds reflector, described as "F, 2' x 2'; spiral with a sharp almost stellar N, in a very rich field."

400/500mm - 17.5" moderately bright and large, round. The 1.5' halo is weakly concentrated and contains a nearly stellar core. A group of stars cradle the galaxy around the north side. A unequal pair of mag 11/13.5 stars lies 4' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb