Heinrich d'Arrest discovered NGC 6703 on 4 Sep 1863 with the 11-inch refractor at Copenhagen. He noted a bright stellar nucleus of 12th magnitude and measured an accurate position. NGC 6702 was discovered 4 nights later on a second observation.

200/250mm - 8" (8/12/83): fairly faint, small, fairly high surface brightness, bright core. Collinear with two mag 12 stars to the SSW. NGC 6702 lies 10' NNW.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/1/89): fairly bright, fairly small, round, very bright core, stellar nucleus. Located within a string of four mag 12/13 stars (two are south and two are north) including two mag 12.5 stars 1.3' S and 1.7' NNW of center. Forms an optical pair with NGC 6702 10' NNW, but NGC 6703 lies in the foreground at roughly half the distance.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb