Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6047 = Sw. IV-25 on 27 Jun 1886, along with several other members of the Hercules Galaxy Cluster. He logged "eF; R; pS; F * close north; 7th of 10." His position is 9 seconds of RA too small (a similar offset in RA as NGC 6043 and 6045) and the comment about the faint star applies.

300/350mm - 13.1" (5/14/83): very faint, very small. Third of four in a subgroup of AGC 2151 and located 2' SSE of NGC 6045. A mag 13.5 star is very close west.

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/13/88): very faint, very small, round. A mag 13.5 star is just 26" NW of the center. This galaxy is the third of three in a the central region of AGC 2151 with NGC 6043 3.3' NNW and NGC 6045 1.7' NNW. Also nearby is NGC 6050 4.0' NW.

17.5" (3/23/85): third of trio in a line. Appears very faint, small, a faint star is close preceding.

600/800mm - 24" (6/4/16): at 322x; fairly faint, small, round, very small bright core. A mag 13 star is just off the northwest side, 25" from the center. NGC 6045 lies 1.7' N.

900/1200mm - 48" (4/5/13): moderately bright, fairly small, irregularly round, 24" diameter, bright core. A mag 13.5 star is just off the northwest edge. Located 1.7' S of NGC 6045.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb