Édouard Stephan discovered NGC 6518 = St XIII-87 on 18 Jun 1884 and recorded "2 vF similar stars in vF and vS nebulosity." His position is accurate.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/1/89): very faint, extremely small, round. A mag 14 star is just at the west edge. Appears like a close double star with one component "fuzzy". In a rich star field with UGC 11086 and UGC 11090.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb