Ormond Stone discovered NGC 981 = LM 1-59 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 15.0, 0.4' dia, gbM". His (rough) position falls close to MCG -02-07-030 = PGC 9710. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1898-99 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes).

400/500mm - 17.5" (12/4/93): faint, small, unconcentrated round spot with a low surface brightness. Two mag 13 stars are 2.1' SW and 3.3' SW. NGC 977 lies 13' NNE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb