Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6246 = Sw. IV-43 on 28 Jun 1886 and recorded "eF; S; R." His position is just 9 tsec of RA west of UGC 10580, so this identification is certain.

The RNGC has reversed the identifications of NGC 6246 and NGC 6246A = UGC 10584, which is located 10' south-southeast of NGC 6246. Although these galaxies have similar magnitudes, NGC 6246 is more prominent visually due to a higher surface brightness. NGC 6246 is correctly identified in UGC, MCG and RC3. The error was mentioned in my RNGC Corrections #2.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/4/86): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, broad concentration. Forms a pair with UGC 10584 = NGC 6246A 10' SSE. This galaxy is incorrectly identified as NGC 6246A in the RNGC.

17.5" (6/19/88): faint, fairly small, elongated WSW-ENE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb