DeLisle Stewart discovered IC 4856 = DS 590 on a plate taken at Harvard's Arequipa station on 17 Sep 1901 and reported "eF, eS, D neb, susp."

600/800mm - 30" (10/12/15 - OzSky): at 303x; fairly faint, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, ~45"x15", fairly low surface brightness, irregular shape. A mag 12.8 star lies 1' NE. Forms an interacting pair with brighter NGC 6788 6.5' SW. Situated 3.5' due north of mag 7.8 HD 182396 and 10' ESE of mag 7.6 HD 182160.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb