Edward Swift discovered NGC 6685 = Sw. IX-91 on 29 May 1887 and recorded "eeF; vS; R; e diff; sp of 2 [with NGC 6686]; in finder field with Epsilon Lyrae." The positions for both objects are 3' too far north, though Bigourdan measured an accurate position on 2 Aug 1888 (published in his 8 Jul 1901 Comptes Rendus paper).

Unfortunately, Swift's published position falls close to a fainter third galaxy (IC 4772 = PGC 62217), which was discovered by Herbert Howe on 7 Sep 1898 and placed accurately. The CGCG (228-021), MCG (+07-38-015) and UGC (11317) reverse the identifications of NGC 6685 and(IC 4772, calling the NGC 6685 the fainter third galaxy. The RNGC also misidentifies(IC 4772 as NGC 6685. These errors were noted in my RNGC Corrections #2 as well as by Malcolm Thomson in his CGCG corrections.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/5/86): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. Located 8.7' SSE of mag 8 SAO 47678. Member of a trio with IC 4772 2.8' N and NGC 6686 9.5' NNE. RNGC, UGC, CGCG misidentify IC 4772 as NGC 6685. Described as very small as 8/2/86.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb