William Herschel discovered NGC 6340 = H II-767 = h1980 on 6 Jun 1788 (sweep 847) and recorded "pB, pL, vgmbM, R." JH made the single observation "vF; R; gbM; 25" sf a small double star 2' dist."

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/16/93): fairly bright, moderately large, slightly elongated WNW-ESE, 2.2'x1.8', prominent bright core, stellar nucleus with direct vision. A double star mag 11.5/12.5 is off the NW edge 1.7' from core. Forms a trio with IC 1251 6.4' N and IC 1254 6.8' NE. IC 1251 was recorded as "faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 ~E-W, fairly low almost even surface brightness. Located in a string of stars which ends at the double star adjacent to NGC 6340 6' SSE." IC 1254 was described as "faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, even surface brightness. Slightly fainter than IC 1251 6' W."

17.5" (7/9/88): fairly bright, moderately large, round, very small bright core. A wide mag 11/12 double star is 2' NW. Brightest of three with IC 1251 and IC 1254 in field.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb