John Herschel discovered NGC 6383 = h3689 on 3 Aug 1834 and recorded "a curious cluster consisting of one large * 6-7m, and some 15 or 20 small ones 13m clustering close to it." His position is on the bright star. On a second sweep he reported "a star 7m with a cl of st 12m assembled about it. The great * occupies the centre. A very remarkable object." NGC 6374 is a duplicate observation, verified by his mention of the bright star.

200/250mm - 8" (6/27/81): Includes a mag 5.8 star and 12 faint stars, excellent with averted, brightest star appears triple. Surrounded by very large, very faint nebulosity.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/27/92): 20 stars mag 12-14 surround mag 5.7 HD 159176. Elongated WNW-ESE in a 5' string. The bright star has 4 or 5 faint companions within 1' (h4962 = 5.7/10.5/10.5 at 5"/13"). Also just west is 20' scattered string of 20 stars including 8 mag 10-11 stars visible in the 80mm finder. This is a striking cluster.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb