Johnstone and Bindon Stoney, LdR's assistant, discovered NGC 970 on 14 Sep 1850 while observing the NGC 978 group. This galaxy is labeled "Gamma" on the sketch of 11 Oct 1850 and the micrometric offset from NGC 969 is accurate, though it was seen as single. The listed dimensions apply to the double system.

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/4/93): extremely faint, very small, round. Located near the midpoint and just east of the line connecting a mag 9.5 star 1.5' N and NGC 969 2' SSW. A mag 14.5 star is 1.3' WNW. This is a double system (unresolved). Member of the NGC 978 group with NGC 974 3.3' ESE and NGC 978 10' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (2/18/20): at 375x; faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, with averted vision often extends to 18"x12" but the two components of this double system were merged. A mag 10 star is 1.5' N. In a close trio with much brighter NGC 969 and NGC 974. NGC 971 is a mag 15.8 star 0.9' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb