William Herschel discovered NGC 5996 = H II-97 = h1938 = Sf 25 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 183) and recorded "pF, vS, r, preceding 2 pB stars, the most south of which is the brightest. Other stars besides in the field of view." CH's reduced position is 17 sec of RA following Arp 72 = VV 16. JH made two observations and measured an accurate position. Truman Safford later independently found this galaxy on 1 Jun 1866 and included it in his 1887 discovery list at the Dearborn Observatory.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/14/88): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated ~N-S, bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star lies 1.5' S. Forms a close interacting pair (Arp 72) with NGC 5994 1.5' SW.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/15/12): NGC 5996 is the brighter member of an interacting pair (Arp 72) with NGC 5994. At 488x it appeared quite bright, elongated over 2:1 SSW-NNE, though the brightest central section (bar) is elongated ~E-W. The galaxy is well concentrated with a very bright, elongated core or bar. It has an asymmetric appearance with a long, bright arm attached on the east side. This arm hooks southwest towards NGC 5994 and appears slightly clumpy (a knot in the arm is 24" S of the center). On the west end of the bar a shorter arm shoots straight north and fades quickly as it starts to hook east, with the brightest portion near the connection with the bar.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb