Pietro Baracchi discovered IC 4985 on 3 Sep 1885, while searching for NGC 6872 and 6876 (Pavo-I cluster) with the 48" Melbourne Telescope. Baracchi's sketch, which perfectly matches the field, displays IC 4982 and IC 4985 as small round nebulae along with a half dozen field stars. The discovery was never published.

DeLisle Stewart independently discovered IC 4985 = D.S. 666 on a plate taken at Harvard's Arequipa station on 21 Sep 1900. He noted "vF, bM." Stewart was credited with the discovery in the IC.

600/800mm - 30" (10/18/17 - OzSky): at 429x; fairly faint, fairly small, round, broad concentration. Slightly brighter of a pair with IC 4982 2.3' SW. Member of the Pavo-I Group.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb