researched STT 199

On our way to Hamilton, Millie had mentioned a "strange" double star, one that was not renamed when they moved the constellation borders. I was curious about it. And to see how it was treated in popular software tools.

Millie said the peculiar target was 37 Lyncis in Ursa Major. She said was close to Otto Struve 200 and galaxy NGC 2841. Sissy Haas made observations of it and documented it in her book—under UMa. Millie referred to another book by Kepple and Sanner where it was shown on the chart as 37 Lyn in UMa but not in the table.

I had a look and reported back. I was very curious why Haas used the designation 37 Lyn. Legacy issues? I wondered if Haas copied the old designation from an old atlas. Confusing matters. Why not use a designation without the constellation reference? I suggested that no one would be able to enter it into a modern hand controller or computer.

I found the pair was not labelled in Pocket Sky Atlas. It was not shown as a double star (although Otto Struve 200 was).

It is not referred to as 37 Lyn in Stellarium nor is it shown as a double.

SkyTools does show it. It calls this star HD 80290, SAO 27215, PPM 32105, HIP 45836, and STT 199A.

It is the Washington database as 09207+5116STT 199 aka STT 199 meaning Otto Struve 199.

I found the first reported observation was in 1847.