Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6285 around 1886 and recorded "eeF, S, R, v diffic, np of 2". The discovery was communicated directly to Dreyer, who referenced his 6th discovery list, which was under preparation when the NGC was published. But Swift didn't include it in either his 6th or later 9th list, which included several objects Swift discovered prior to the publication of the NGC. His position is just 7 seconds west and 1' north of this galaxy. Nearby NGC 6286 was discovered earlier on 13 Aug 1885.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/88): faint, very small, oval WNW-ESE, weak concentration. Forms a close pair with brighter NGC 6286 1.5' SE.

600/800mm - 24" (7/2/19): at 282x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:1 E-W, broad and mild concentration. The spiral arms extending north on the west end of the bar and south on the east end were not noticed.

24" (7/20/17): at 322x; moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 5:2 E-W, broad concentration with a relatively large brighter core. I wasn't able to see arm structure coming off the central bar with any confidence. Forms an interacting pair Arp 293 (with low surf. br. tidal bridge and plumes) with NGC 6286 1.5' SE.

24" (6/28/16): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 E-W (central bar), ~30"x10", small bright core. Occasionally, very low surface brightness haze (arms) could be glimpsed on the north side of the west end of the bar and the south side of the east end. Forms an interacting pair (Arp 293) with NGC 6286 1.5' SE.

900/1200mm - 48" (5/15/12): moderately bright to fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 5:2 E-W, ~40"x12", well concentrated with a bright core, faint extensions. Very low surface arm structure is just visible at the east and west ends of the bar. Smaller and fainter of a pair (Arp 293) with NGC 6286.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb