John Herschel discovered NGC 6903 = h2073 on 14 Jul 1830 and recorded "a * 10m, with a considerable nebulous appendage sp, in which by glimpses may be fancied a star 15m." A total of 3 observations were made. This galaxy wasn't found on two attempts at Birr Castle in the 1850s, though it was later observed in the 1860's. d'Arrest followed up with two observations at Copenhagen in 1864 with the 11" refractor and commented it was hard to understand how Rosse missed this object.

400/500mm - 17.5" (8/5/91): fairly faint, very small, round, very small bright core. Very unusual appearance as a mag 10 star is attached at the NNE end. The main body of the galaxy just extends up to the bright star but an extremely faint larger halo was suspected to encompass the bright star.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb