Albert Marth discovered NGC 6897 = m 406 = Sf 80, along with NGC 6898, on 28 Jun 1863 and noted "vF, S." Truman Safford independently rediscovered this galaxy on 24 Aug 1867 with the 18.5-inch refractor at Dearborn Observatory, though his position is poor.

400/500mm - 17.5" (10/5/91): faint, small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE. A mag 11.5 star is just west of the SW tip 1.1' from the center. Pair with NGC 6898 6.5' SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb