Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6290 = Sw. II-46, along with NGC 6291 and 6286, on 13 Aug 1885 and recorded "eF; pS; R; * nr following; 2 bright stars nearly point to it; n of 2 [with NGC 6291]." The note "2 bright stars nearly point to it" refer to 2 mag 10 stars to the northwest, but there is no star "nr following."

MCG misidentifies NGC 6290 as NGC 6291.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/88): fairly faint, small, round, bright core, faint stellar nucleus. Brightest of three in a compact group with NGC 6291 2.0' S and MCG +10-24-085 2' WSW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb