Andrew Cooper
Aug 15, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Brilliant blue-white, an obvious 7th magnitude companion sits 30" south

Gaia EDR3 data shows this companion BD+32 102 to share both parallax and proper motion with π And

Captain William Henry Smyth
Nov 25, 1832    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A fine double star, between the shoulders of the chained Lady. A 4½, fine white; B 9, blue,— and they point to two small stars at a distance in the sf quadrant. A line carried from α Pegasi to α Andromedæ, and extended 6° beyond, strikes upon π.

Ptolemy was right in stating it to be upon the shoulder; but as the figures of the constellations are drawn on many modern celestial maps, with the fronts towards the observer, π then appears to be situate on the breast.

It is well described by Piazzi: "duplex." ait, "comes 10æ magnitudinis sequilur Os.6 temporis circiter ½ min. ad austrum"

This object was first registered as a double star by WH, and is No. 17 V.; but though he pronounced his distance of 34.20" to be inaccurate, it must have been pretty near the truth, for subsequent measures indicate about the same. H. and S. obtained results thus: Pos. 175°26' Dist. 35".59 Ep. 1821.88

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

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

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