Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6687 = Sw. I-100 on 11 Jul 1883 and recorded "eF; pL; R; bet 2 st; also bet 2 coarse clusters; np of 2." His position is 13 seconds of RA too large and 1' too far north. His description "bet 2 stars, also bet 2 coarse clusters" applies to scattered groups of stars to the southwest and northeast. So the identification is certain. The comment "north-preceding of 2" might apply to NGC 6696, which was discovered 11 months later. Bigourdan measured an accurate position on 14 Aug 1891 as well as Herbert Howe in 1899-00 at Denver.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/20/90): very faint, very small, roundish, low even surface brightness. Collinear with two mag 11 stars to the east. There are several stars mag 10-12 to the SW in a group. Situated in a rich and bright star field!

Notes by Steve Gottlieb