John Herschel discovered NGC 6990 = h3847 on 9 Jul 1834 and recorded "a * 10m, to which is attached or almost so, by its extremity an eF, vS nebulous ray; vmE in meridian 15" l; 4" br; night superb, and without this condition it were useless to look for this object." His position (measured twice) is accurate.

600/800mm - 30" (10/10/15 - OzSky): at 394x; moderately bright, very elongated 3:1 N-S, 0.9'x0.35', slightly mottled appearance but no well defined core. A mag 12 star is at the south tip, 0.6' from center.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb