Andrew Cooper
Feb 20, 2020    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 61x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Slightly yellow, no companion noted

Captain William Henry Smyth
Dec 13, 1831    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A wide double star on the back of Pollux; following Wasat, δ Geminorum, within 2°, about east by south. A 6, yellow; B 10, reddish, and with two telescopic stars in the sp quadrant, they form a regular curve. This is 53 ♅. V., registered in 1781, but without giving an angle of position. It was then examined by H. and S., who measured the angle, but not the distance. The two results, however, lead to the inference that they are only optical neighbours. [In conflict with Smyth's conclusion Gaia EDR3 data shows closely matching parallax and proper motion for the pair] The large star probably has the proper motion assigned to it:

    P....   RA -0".06  Dec. -0".12
    B....      -0".02       -0".07
   [Gaia EDR3  -0".056450   -0".121068]

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

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