Andrew Cooper
Nov 11, 2023    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 136x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Σ 1121 is a fine 7" double consisting of two blue-white stars at the heart of M47, the 6.9 magnitude HD 60997 and the 7.4 magnitude HD 60998 to the southeast, WDS lists an absurd number of companion stars reaching as far as T in the alphabet, sitting in the heart of a rich cluster this seems pointless

Gaia EDR3 data shows closely matching parallax and proper motion data for the HD 60997 / HD 60998 pair, possibly a binary even as they are both members of the M47 cluster

Captain William Henry Smyth
Mar 18, 1834    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A double star in a loose cluster of the Milky Way [M47], over the Argo's stern; and one of those seized by Bode to make his Officina Typographica. A 7½, and B 8, both bright bluish white. It inhabits a very splendid field of large and small stars, disposed somewhat in a lozenge-shape, and preceded by a 7th magnitude with a companion about 20" nf it. The cluster was not registered till 1785, but the double star is 63 ♅. II., the former measures of which are:

    H. Pos. 300° 12'  Dist. 6".50  Ep. 1782.78
    S       303° 20'        7".44      1825.02
    Σ.      304° 44'        7".46      1831.44
   [WDS     305°            7".40      2019   ]

To fish this object up, run a line about 12° east-by-north from Sirius, and intersect it by another from Pollux through Procyon, and continued 20° lower down. It is in a very rich vicinity.

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

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