DeLisle Stewart discovered IC 4712 = D.S. 466 on a plate taken on 20 Aug 1900 at Harvard's Arequipa Station. He noted "vF, vS, R, bM."

600/800mm - 24" (4/12/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, 1.5'x1.0', fairly weak concentration. Unusual appearance as a brighter mag 12 is superimposed at the WSW edge. Located 13' WNW of mag 7.0 HD 169979. Third of three in a group with IC 4704 16' WNW and IC 4705 14' W. This trio was surprisingly missed by John Herschel.

24" (4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appeared fairly bright, moderately large elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, 1.6'x0.8'. Unusual appearance with a mag 11.5 star right at the WSW tip. In a group with IC 4704, IC 4705 and IC 4712.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb