Andrew Cooper
Aug 26, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A lovely double, a 5th magnitude rich orange with a 7.5 magnitude companion visible to the west, the similar double χ Tau lies 1°20 south-southwest

Gaia EDR3 data shows that the companion is somewhat further away and does not share the high proper motion of φ Tau

Captain William Henry Smyth
Nov 10, 1832    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A wide double star, in the upper part of the Bull's neck; within the mid-distance from Aldcbaran towards ε Persei. A 6, light red; B 8½, cerulean blue. This object is 13 ♅. V., found in 1779; but the register only records a distance of 55".02, which is marked " inaccurate," albeit it proves to be so neat an estimation. It is No. 40 of H. and S., who gave these measures:

    Pos. 240°27'  Dist. 56".84  Ep. 1821.95
   [WDS  259°           48".70      2017   ]

The larger component has a proper movement in space, of which the registered value is;

    P....  RA +0".08  Dec. -0".10
    B....     -0".05       -0".04
   [Gaia DR2  -0".028679   -0".077775]

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

Steve Coe

5.1/7.5mag 48sec PA256; Light red and cerulean blue-Smyth

― SAC Red Star Database