The possible spectroscopic binary nature of the star was first noted in 1983 by Gilbert Burki and
Michel Mayor in a paper on the rate of binaries among supergiant stars.[9] In the same year,
William P. Bidelman noted that the
stellar spectrum was composite indicating a companion star.[10] Confirmation of spectroscopic binary status and a preliminary orbit was published in 1998 by
R. Paul Butler,[11] a much more accurate orbit was published in 2015 by Roger Griffin.[4]
^
abcdeGriffin, R. F. (2015). "Spectroscopic binary orbits from photoelectric radial velocities. Paper 241: HR 1884, HD 174103, HD 182563, and HR 8442, with a note on zeta Cephei". The Observatory. 135: 71–95.
Bibcode:
2015Obs...135...71G.
^Burki, G.; Mayor, M. (1983). "Nineteen new spectroscopic binaries and the rate of binary stars among F-M supergiants". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 124 (2): 256–266.
Bibcode:
1983A&A...124..256B.