Andrew Cooper
Nov 11, 2020    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 4 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Orange, a 10th magnitude 12" companion not visible

The Gaia DR2 data shows the WDS listed B component to be a background star. WDS also lists an 11th magnitude C component 223" southeast, this fainter star is actually closer and its proper motions do not match 12 Cet

Captain William Henry Smyth
Nov 21, 1837    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A triple star, or rather, a double one with a distant companion, above half-way in a line shot from γ Pegasi to β Ceti. A 6, topaz yellow; B 15, bright blue; C 11, dusky, other telescopic stars in the field.

This beautiful, but most difficult test object, is No. 322 of H.'s Second Series. It lies between the Whale's tail and the Southern Fish, nearly mid-distance of two stars to the np and sf, but trending towards the parallel,— the following individual being of the llth magnitude, and the largest.

B is only discernible by the closest attention under favouring circumstances, though when once caught, is tolerably well seen; the detail here given is therefore a mere estimation. Piazzi remarks : "Probably lla of Mayer, the sign of the declination being wrong, as in the 9a , neither of which are found in a northern sky."

― A Cycle of Celestial Objects Vol II, The Bedford Catalogue, William Henry Smyth, 1844

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