Edward Pickering discovered NGC 6881 = HN 44 on 25 Nov 1881 using a direct-vision spectroscope attached to the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College Observatory. His position in Sidereal Messenger, Vol 1, No 6 (Oct 1882) and The Observatory 1882 is accurate.

Based on Crossley photographs at Lick, Heber Curtis (1918) noted, "Probably has a central star. Just distinguishable from a star; a minute disk 5" in diameter, with very faint ansae in 150-330°."

300/350mm - 13.1" (8/7/85): visible as a mag 13.5 "star" without a filter. Verified with OIII blinking and appears brighter than a mag 12 just 44" SE. Stellar at 144x. Located in a rich Milky Way field. Several bright stars are near including mag 8.7 SAO 69561 3.6' NNW, mag 8.5 SAO 69557 4.2' NW and mag 9.5 SAO 69565 3.4' SSE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb