John Herschel discovered NGC 6984 = h3845, along with NGC 6982, on 8 Jul 1834 and recorded "F; L; lE; glbM; 90" l; the following of 2 [with NGC 6982]."

600/800mm - 30" (11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): brightest in a trio with NGC 6982 5.5' W and PGC 65805 (Fairall 927) 5.6' NNE. Fairly bright, moderately large, oval 4:3 ~E-W, 1.2'x0.9', broadly concentrated halo, then sharply brightens to a small bright nucleus. A mag 10.6 star lies 4' NW and a mag 12 star is 1.4' E.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb