Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6377 = Sw. IV-51, along with NGC 6376, on 1 Sep 1886, and recorded "eF; eS; R; lbM; in center of equilateral triangle; np of 2 [with NGC 6376]; verified both with 200x." His position is fairly close and the relative offsets for the pair are accurate. His note "np of 2" should read "nf of 2".

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/18/88): faint, very small, round, small bright core, faint halo. Forms a contact pair with NGC 6376 35" SW of center. Located 12' NNW of mag 6.5 SAO 30387.

600/800mm - 24" (7/20/17): at 375x; moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE, 30"x10". Contains a very small bright core and that increases to a stellar nucleus. Forms an interacting pair with NGC 6376, just 0.6' SW. The major axis of NGC 6377 "points" to the center of the companion, which is highly disturbed. The pair is located 3' NE of a mag 9.8 star and the two galaxies are collinear with the star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb