William Herschel discovered NGC 6964 = H II-427 = h2089, along with NGC 6962, on 12 Aug 1785 (sweep 425) and recorded "Two, the following [NGC 6964] vF, vS, lbM, about 3 or 4' from the preceding and a little more south. 240 showed the same." John Herschel's mean position (2 measures) is accurate.

300/350mm - 13.1" (8/23/84): slightly fainter than NGC 6962 in size and brightness, a faint star follows.

13.1" (7/27/84): second brightest in the NGC 6962 group. Moderately bright, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, weak concentration.

400/500mm - 17.5" (7/16/88): fairly faint to moderately bright, small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, small bright core. A mag 13.5 star is 38" SE of center. This is the second brightest in the NGC 6962 group and located just 1.8' SE of NGC 6962.

17.5" (8/31/86): moderately bright, strong bright core, substellar nucleus, almost round.

600/800mm - 24" (9/25/19): at 375x; fairly bright, moderately large, oval 4:3 N-S, 60"x45", strong concentration with a very bright core. A mag 13.5 star is at the SE edge, less than 40" from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb