James Dunlop discovered NGC 6300 = h3668 on 30 Jun 1826, according to Glen Cozens who examined his handwritten notes (on microfiche). For some reason, though, Dunlop didn't include this object in his catalogue.

John Herschel rediscovered NGC 6300 = h3668 on 30 Jun 1826 and recorded "F; vL; R; vgvlbM; 3'; has several stars, one = 11m; involved but being on a rich ground, there appears no connection." Herschel was credited with the discovery in the NGC.

400/500mm - 18" (7/11/05 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): NGC 6300 is a very unusual galaxy at a low galactic latitude with an appearance similar to a fairly large emission nebula in a rich Milky Way star field! The shape seemed irregular, but elongated 5:3 NW-SE, ~3.0'x1.8' with a weak concentration to a slightly brighter core. Two brighter stars (mag 12.5) are superimposed on the core and another two mag 13.5 stars are superimposed near the north and south ends of the halo! These stars confuse the observation of this strange looking galaxy (a dusty barred spiral with ring). Located 9.5' SW of mag 7.6 HD 155797.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb