John Herschel discovered NGC 1697 = h2675 on 2 Nov 1834 (along with NGC 1696, 1714, 1715, 1718, 1735, 1747, and a couple of dozen additional objects). On his first observation (out of 5) he recorded "pB, R, vglbM, 40"." On the 4th sweep he wrote "globular cluster, pB, R, glbM, 1.5'; resolved. With the left eye I see the stars". The Shapley-Lindsay position (S-L 44) is exactly 10' too far south.

600/800mm - 30" (11/6/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): bright, fairly large, round, large bright core, very mottled but not resolved except for a few sparklers that are visible for moments. A mag 10.6 star lies 2.5' SE. Located 11' E of mag 7.2 HD 30969.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb