Andrew Cooper
Sep 21, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Pale orange, no companion noted, a wide double with θ2 Tau visible 6' south, set in a brilliant field at the center of the Hyades star cluster amongst a scattering of 5th and 6th magnitude stars, a delightful area to wander at low magnification

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

A wide pair of stars on the Bull's face, where it forms the southern vertex of a small triangle with Aldebaran and the Hyades. A 5, pearly white; B, which is θ², 5½, yellowish.

From an apparent identity in the values and signs of proper motions in space, the components of this object are suspected of being in physical connexion; and imagination is confounded at the probable period of the magnus annus, should the idea ultimately prove correct, for its curve defies human calculation. In order to aid future inquiry, the above mean apparent place and micrometrical measurements were made under the greatest caution and care, for the amount and direction of proper motion stands thus:

    P. θ1 RA +0".13  Dec. -0".10
       θ2    +0".10       -0".05
    B. θ1    +0".05       -0".01
       θ2    +0".18       -0".01
    A. θ1    +0".08       -0".02
       θ2    +0".11       -0".07
    [  θ1    +0".10497    -0".01514  Hipparcos]
    [  θ2    +0".103330   -0'.018625 Gaia DR2 ]

Mr. Baily thinks it probable, that Ptolemy observed θ¹ and θ² as one star, and of course a fixed star; but from the quality of the capital now accumulating for posterity, it is probable that a few hundred years hence will find the list of inerranies, or stars not wandering, a term so general down to our own day, very greatly restricted. And while on this, I am glad to produce another proof from Piazzi's Prcecipuarum stellarum INERRANTIUM, of the excellence of the Palermo observations; for a reduction of the mean places, together with an application of the proper motions, affords the two following periods of comparison:

Pos. 166°.0 Dist. 340".0 Ep. 1800
167°.0 338".0 1840

[Smyth's noted magnitudes and colors appear to be reversed... θ1 Tau is a 3.8 magnitude G9 yellow star while θ2 Tau is a 3.4 magnitude A7 blue-white star, the remainder of the entry appears to be correct with reguards to the noted separations and directions.]

― 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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