Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 995 = St III-12 (along with NGC 999 = St III-14 and NGC 1001 = St III-16) on 8 Dec 1871 with the 31" reflector at the Marseille Observatory. His position matches UGC 2118 = PGC 10008. First in a group of 6 NGC galaxies (NGCs 995, 996, 999, 1000, 1001, 1005) discovered by Stephan over 3 nights.

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/1/86): fairly faint, fairly small, oval SW-NE, bright core. A mag 15 star is just off the east edge. Located at the west edge of the NGC 995-1005 group with NGC 996 7' NNE and NGC 1000 5' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb