Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 5978 = LM 1-229 on 10 Jun 1885 and recorded "eF, vS, sbMN, in a group of stars." His rough position, as well as the description, is a good match with MCG -02-40-002 = PGC 55838. Herbert Howe measured an accurate micrometric position with the 20-inch refractor in Denver in 1899-00 (repeated in the IC 2 Notes).

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/00): extremely faint, very small, round. Appears as a 30" diameter low surface brightness glow between two mag 14-15 stars 1' S and 2' NNE. Located 15' SW of a mag 6.7 SAO 159458.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb