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

Pale yellow, WDS lists 4 components, B is an 8th magnitude 0.3" companion which is not visible, C is an 8th magnitude star which is easily visible 20" to the northeast, D is a 10th magnitude also easily visible 3' to the south

Examining the Gaia DR2 data shows the D companion to be a background star, while the C companion is more interesting. The parallax is a full mas different, with the AB pair showing 7.8663mas or 414ly while C shows 9.0841mas or 359ly. While the distances do not line up the proper motion is a good match with the AB pair at 83.985mas/yr in RA and 6.864mas/yr in dec while C shows 86.324mas/yr in RA and 6.224mas/ys in dec. It is possible that these two stars are related in some fashion.

Captain William Henry Smyth
Nov 14, 1832    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A neat double star, between the whale's tail and the chétil of Pisces, on a line striking from β Ceti through α Andromedæ, and about one- third of the distance. A 7, cream yellow; and B 9, smalt blue. This is a fine object, being nearly mid-way between two stars, one in the sf quadrant, and the smallest in the np. It is No. 39 of Σ's grand Catalogue, where the mean of his observations gives: Pos. 45°27' Dist. 20".09 Ep. 1830.24

My own measures were taken under favourable circumstances, and may therefore be deemed good. Piazzi tells us that in Flamsteed's asterism, a companion of the 9th magnitude follows this star, by lls.2 of time, which he could not find. There is, however, at about the same distance, and to the north, a star of this character, although rather smaller. Is the follower, then, variable?

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

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