William Herschel discovered NGC 6287 = H II-195 = h3666 on 21 May 1784 (sweep 222) and recorded "pB, cL, iR, r, lbM." JH made the single observation "globular cluster; irreg R; gpm comp M; 3' diam; barely resolved into stars 16...18m." and measured an accurate position.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/8/91): fairly bright, irregular, 3' diameter, mottled but not resolved at 280x. The core is elongated SW-NE. Two very faint unresolved star lanes stream to the north and east from the core giving the appearance of a tail.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb