John Herschel discovered NGC 969 = h231, along with NGC 974 = h233 and NGC 978 = h234, on 22 Nov 1827 and reported "S; R; psbM. The first of 3."

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/22/84): fairly faint, small, small bright nucleus, slightly elongated N-S. In a trio with NGC 974 3.9' E and NGC 978 11' SE. NGC 970 2' NE not seen.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/4/93): first of five in the NGC 978 group. Fairly faint, small, round, sharp concentration. A mag 14 star is just 0.9' S. Located 3.4' SSW of a mag 9.5 star in a rich star field. NGC 974 lies 3.8' E, NGC 970 2' NNE and NGC 978 10' SE, all in the same field.

600/800mm - 24" (2/18/20): at 375x; between moderately and fairly bright, oval 2:1 N-S, 1.0'x0.5'. There are three distinct zone; the oval halo, a bright roundish core and a prominent stellar or quasi-stellar nucleus. Brightest in the small trio with NGC 974 3.8' E and NGC 970 (double system) 1.9' NNE. CGCG 505-8, located 7' NW, appeared fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.5'x0.4', very small brighter nucleus, brighter along the central axis (~E-W).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb