John Herschel discovered NGC 6948 = h3840 on 24 Jul 1835 and recorded "vF; E; lbM; 35" l." On a second sweep he logged "eF; pL; lE; 60" l; 50" br."

600/800mm - 30" (11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, 1.6'x0.7', broadly concentrated to a brighter, elongated center but no distinct zones. A 6' line connecting four mag 12-14 stars mag oriented SW to NE intersects the halo on the NW side.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb