William Herschel discovered NGC 6021 = H III-739 = h1943 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 183) and recorded "eF, vS. I suspected it with 157 and 240 showed it very plainly." He observed this galaxy three years later (19 Mar 1787) and also picked up NGC 6018 to the south.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, bright core. Brightest of three with NGC 6018 5.1' S and an anonymous galaxy 5.5' SSE. In the foreground of rich cluster AGC 2147.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb