Lewis Swift discovered NGC 6831 = Sw. IV-78, along with NGC 6829, on 3 Sep 1886 and recorded "eF; S; R: f of 2 [with NGC 6829]." His position is 1.5' too far northeast. Bigourdan measured an accurate micrometric position on 30 Aug 1889 as well as Howe in 1899-00.

400/500mm - 17.5" (6/15/91): faint, fairly small, round, small bright core, sharp stellar nucleus, faint halo. Pair with NGC 6829 6.3' WNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb