Andrew Cooper
Aug 17, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Rich yellow, a wide double with the 5.9 magnitude rich yellow star HR 556 visible 3' northwest, on the southwestern margin of the large cluster NGC 752

Captain William Henry Smyth
Feb 17, 1834    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A pair of stars [with HD 11727] between the Triangle and the Lady's right knee, both of the 6th magnitude, and both yellow, being Piazzi's admirably observed Nos. 203 and 204, Hora 1. These stars are suspected of physical connection, principally on the ground that their identity of movement in space implies their union in some vast system. Their proper motions have lately been rigidly inquired into, and the following results registered:

    B. No. 203 RA +0".06 Dec. -0".01
           204    +0".24      +0".04

    A. No. 203 RA +0".03 Dec. -0".02
           204    +0".21      +0".01

 [Gaia DR2 203 RA +0".009566  -0".004977
           204    +0".183659  +0".011670]

This object is readily identified, by carrying a line from π Andromedae through β, and extending it about 10° beyond the latter; and it is also nearly in mid-distance between Al'mak and Mothallath.

[Given the Gaia DR2 difference in RA proper motions and a dramatic difference in parallax (2.88 and 9.88mas), these two stars are not physically related despite appearances]

― 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.

A complete list of credits and sources can be found on the about page