Harold Corwin

IC 4690 is probably identical with NGC 6589 (which see for a problem of its own). If so, Barnard misidentified the star in his note published in AN 4239. There he says "The two stars BD-19 4881 and BD-19 4946 are closely and densely nebulous. The nebulosity about BD-19 4881 is somewhat extended nf and sp."

In order to make this match the field he is describing, the star number BD-19 4881 has to be replaced in the first sentence with BD-19 4940, and then with BD-19 4946 in the second. The nebula around BD-19 4946 is NGC 6590 (which see) = NGC 6595 = IC 4700; it is elongated as Barnard describes, while the nebula around BD-19 4940 is nearly circular. That leads to my thought that Barnard's second mention of BD-19 4881 is actually a reference to NGC 6590 rather than NGC 6589. This in turn suggests that IC 4690 is NGC 6589.

In any event, there is no nebulosity around BD-19 4881; that star is nearly seven minutes of time west of -19d 4946. Barnard's mentioning it is almost certainly a misidentification on his part.

― IC Notes by Harold Corwin

Harold Corwin

NGC 6589 may also be IC 4690 (which see for more discussion). Swift's position for NGC 6589 is about 36 seconds of time off, a mistake corrected by Barnard, and included in the IC1 Notes. Ironically, Barnard is also responsible for a mistake of his own which makes the identity with IC 4690 probable.

Also see the discussion under NGC 6590 and IC 1283 for more on this field.

― IC Notes by Harold Corwin

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