Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 6310, along with NGC 6307, on 27 Oct 1861 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen (first night he made discoveries with this telescope). Lewis Swift independently rediscovered this galaxy on 8 Jul 1885 and reported it as new in list II-52. His description reads "pF; vE; 3 stars in line point to it. nf of 2 [with NGC 6306]." Dreyer assumed this observation referred to NGC 6307, and references Swift as an "Other Observer" for NGC 6307. It's possible, though, that Swift's II-51 refers to NGC 6307.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/88): fairly faint, fairly small, edge-on 5:1 WSW-ENE, 1.5'x0.3', small bright core.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb