Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 6552 on 6 Oct 1866 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen while observing H IV 37 [NGC 6543]. Lewis Swift independently found this galaxy on 27 May 1886 and recorded Sw. IV-66 as "vF; S; cE; [NGC 6543] in field."

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/11/88): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated ~E-W, bright core. Located just 10' E of NGC 6543, the Cat's Eye Nebula! Position is nearly coincident with the North Ecliptic Pole so the RA and Dec are virtually constant over time!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb