William Herschel discovered NGC 5970 = H II-76 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep 175) and recorded "pB, R, brightest in the middle and gradually fainter from the center; not cometic; a considerable star is in the field with it." CH's reduced position is 26 sec of RA east and 2' south of UGC 9943.

300/350mm - 13.1" (6/4/83): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 ~E-W, broad concentration to core. Located 5.3' SW of mag 7.5 SAO 101663.

600/800mm - 24" (6/22/17): at 375x; bright, large, oval 2:1 E-W, at least 2'x1', perhaps 2.4'x1.2' with averted. Sharply concentrated with a prominent elongated core that gradually brightens to a central pip. Spiral structure was strongly suggested in the halo, particularly on the east side, where a slightly brighter section appeared to hook to the north. Mag 7.4 HD 139609 lies 5.3' NE.

IC 1131, 8' SE, appeared fairly faint, small, round, 18" diameter, broad concentration. A small trio of 14th magnitude stars is close west, with the galaxy nearly forming a parallelogram

Notes by Steve Gottlieb