Albert Marth discovered NGC 6917 = m 413 on 15 Aug 1863 and noted "vF, S, attached to a small *." His position and description matches UGC 11563. Édouard Stephan measured a very accurate micrometric position at the Marseille Observatory.

300/350mm - 13.1" (7/27/84): very faint, low even surface brightness, almost round, 0.8' diameter. A mag 14 star is at the south end 22" from the center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb