Andrew Cooper
Oct 19, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Σ 470 is a lovely double consisting of a rich yellow primary Σ 470A with a white companion Σ 470B visible 7" north-northwest and about one magnitude fainter

Hipparcos data shows nicely comparable parallax and proper motion for this pair

Captain William Henry Smyth
Nov 29, 1831    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A very neat double star, between the chest of Taurus and the River; and a line carried from γ Eridani to the following part of the Pleiades, passes it at rather better than a quarter of the distance. A 5, topaz yellow; B 7, sea-green; the colours in brilliant contrast. This fine object is 36 ♅. II, and was thus measured by its discoverer:

    Pos. 343°23'  Dist. 4".33  Ep. 1781.81

between which and my measures were these examinations:

    H. and S. Pos. 349°01'  Dist. 8".08  Ep. 1821.90
    Σ.             349°45'        6".75      1825.00
    D.             347°14'        7".02      1830.82
   [WDS            349°           6".90      2019   ]

From all which we may conclude that there has been little or no change, though the star is sufficiently easy for the results to have been more coincident.

― 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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