Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6489 = Sw. I-77 on 5 Jun 1885 and recorded "eeeF; pL; lE; between 2 stars; ee diff.; coarse double star south." His position is 30 seconds of RA west and 1' south of CGCG 300-079 = PGC 60928 but the description applies, so the identification is certain.

MCG and PGC misidentify PGC 2597969 as NGC 6489. RNGC and CGCG have the correct identification.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/27/92): very faint, very small, round, even surface brightness. Located between two mag 10-11 stars oriented WNW-ESE with separation of 2.5'. Also two mag 13.5 stars are 1' WSW. About 5' SE is a faint double star and the eastern component appears nebulous. CGCG 300-078 lies 17' NNW. On the POSS, the eastern component of the double star has a mag 16 companion very close north.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb