Guillaume Bigourdan found IC 5000 = Big. 335 (= NGC 6901) on 29 Sep 1891 with a description "a clearly nebulous object, 50" diameter, in its extent are several stellar points." His position matches NGC 6901, though he assumed it was new due to Albert Marth's poor position. See NGC 6901 for more.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/20/90): faint, fairly small, oval 2:1 WSW-ENE, overall diffuse with a low even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is 30" off the NW side and 1.4' from the center. NGC 6906 is located 18' E. Similar notes on 6/20/87.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb