Andrew Cooper
Nov 26, 2022    Waikoloa, HI (map)
28cm f/10 SCT, NexStar 11" GyPSy @ 127x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A brilliant blue-white with a close companion 2" south of A, a 4th magnitude pale yellow a nice contrast to the white primary, also visible is 9.5 magnitude 1' north of the brighter pair, in the midst of a spectacular region where the bright Alnitak nearly drowns out the extensive nebulosity of NGC 2024 and IC 434

Andrew Cooper
Nov 27, 2020    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 5 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Brilliant blue-white, a 4th magnitude 2" companion not visible, Alnitak is the center of a splendid field or nebulosity and faint stars, NGC 2024 is to the east, IC 434 extends from Alnitak to the south over a degree along the way a background for the Horeshead Nebula, IC 432 is 26' north

Captain William Henry Smyth
Mar 11, 1839    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A fine triple star, the last or lowest on Orion's belt, formerly one of the Greenwich List, hut rejected in 1830. A 3, topaz yellow, and very bright for its magnitude; B 6½, light purple; and C 10, grey. The principal star is designated on Piazzi's and other Catalogues, Alnitak, the Arabian al-niták, the girdle; otherwise in conjunction with δ and ε, mintakah al-jaúzá, the giant's belt. A slight difference from the general laws of precession has been exhibited to the following values:

P.... RA -0".12 Dec. - 0".08
B.... +0".09 - 0".01

As this was classed 21 ♅. IV., in 1780, Sir William could not hare seen the large star double; and yet it seemed difficult to account for his overlooking so remarkable and elegant a pair, wherefore it has been surmised, that the comes was under occultation at the time. Later observations do not countenance this singular evolution; and I took such pains to establish an epoch for future comparison, that I have every confidence in the results. The other measures which I have carefully consulted, are:

    H. and S. Pos. 150° 03' Dist. 2".62 Ep. 1822.61
    H.             145° 52'       2".60     1830.18
    2.             151° 18        2".35     1831.22
    D.             148° 23'       3".00     1832.56
   [WDS            166°           2".4      2021   ] 

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

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