Charles Messier discovered M26 = NGC 6694 = h3758 on 20 Jun 1764. On 16 Jun 1784 (sweep 228), WH noted "a cluster of scattered stars, not rich." JH recorded (sweep 591) "cl VII class; p rich; irreg R; p well insulated; not much comp M; 10' diam; st 12...15m; one 9m taken."

200/250mm - 8" (7/27/84): 20 stars mag 11-13, fairly small. Consists mostly of faint stars except for the four brighter central stars that form a "kite" asterism. Some dense sections of faint stars lie north and south in strings.

300/350mm - 13" (7/27/84): about 40 stars mag 9-14 are resolved in a 7' diameter at 220x. The brightest star is mag 8.8 SAO 142584 at the SW end. A faint group of mag 13.5-14 stars is just east of the main section. Located in a rich field.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/30/00): this rich, distinctive cluster stands out well in the field at 100x. At 220x, ~60 stars are resolved in a 7' diameter. A mag 9 star marks the SW end. About a dozen stars are arranged in a striking arc (concave to the west) just north of the mag 9 star. A dark lane oriented N-S bisects the cluster just following this star chain and extending past the bright star. On the east side of this lane is a rich group of stars, roughly arranged into two irregular ovals.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb