Lewis Swift discovered NGC 5971 = Sw. II-38, along with NGC 5969, on 5 Aug 1885 and logged "eeF; vS; R; lbM. In field with GC 4114-15 [= NGC 5963/5965]." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/22/93): faint, small, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE. A mag 15.5 star is 30" S. Last of four in the NGC 5965 group with NGC 5969 6' WSW.

600/800mm - 24" (7/8/13): at 375x appeared fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, ~40"x16", contains a brighter core. NGC 5969 lies 6.4' WSW. Last in the KTG 63 triplet with NGC 5963 19' WNW and NGC 5965 19' NW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb