William Herschel discovered NGC 6664 = H VIII-12 = h3754 on 16 Jun 1784 (sweep 228) and recorded "a cluster of very coarsely scattered stars; or, the milky way uncommonly crowded. The cl. did more than fill my field of view." His position is on the east side of the cluster. JH made the single observation "a cl of L stars. It is the commencement of the bright milky way, which here comes on suddenly in the main body."

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/1/89): at 220x, about 100 stars in a 15' scattered field including several mag 11 stars. Many stars are arranged in strings although no dense parts. Located 29' E of Alpha Scuti (V = 3.9).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb