Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 959 = St VIIIb-5 on 9 Nov 1876 with the 31" reflector at the Marseille Observatory. His position matches UGC 2002 = PGC 9665.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/86): moderately bright, fairly large, weak concentration, slightly elongated WSW-ENE. Located 13' S of mag 7.6 SAO 55638 and 39' S of 14 Trianguli (V = 5.2). Member of the NGC 1023 Group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb