Albert Marth discovered NGC 6898 = m 407 = Sf 79, along with NGC 6897, on 28 Jun 1863 and noted "F, S, irr R." Truman Safford independently rediscovered this galaxy (along with NGC 6897) on 24 Aug 1867 with the 18.5-inch refractor at Dearborn Observatory. He logged "pB, S, R, N = 12m."

400/500mm - 17.5" (9/7/91): fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, brighter middle, small bright core. A mag 12 star is just off the SSE edge 39" from center. Pair with NGC 6897 6.5' NNW.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb