<p>From wikipedia, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Uranus" rel="noreferrer">rings of uranus</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The definitive discovery of the Uranian Rings [...] use[d] the occultation of the star SAO 158687[...]</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The star <a href="http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=SAO%20158687&amp;submit=SIMBAD%20search" rel="noreferrer">SAO 158687</a>, also cataloged as <a href="http://news.sky-map.org/starview?object_type=1&amp;object_id=1405322&amp;object_name=HD%20128598&amp;locale=SV" rel="noreferrer">HD 128598</a> is a magnitude 8.7, orange dwarf star in Libra. There seems to be nothing special about the star, except that one day, a planet passed in front of it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-26T22:17:56.020Z
2016-12-26T22:17:56.020Z
James K
<p>In 1977, Uranus occulted a star, and the starlight flickered 40 minutes before and after the actual occultation, revealing Uranus' rings.<br />This is common knowledge to astronomers, but what I can't find out is <em>which star</em> Uranus occulted. Can someone give me the name of this star?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-26T00:56:30.120Z
I've just asked [Why was this answer deleted? Is it possible to re-open and this link added to it?](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/490/7982)
uhoh
<history><planetary-ring><uranus>
Which star did Uranus occult in 1977 when the planet's rings were discovered?
George A. Solodun
# Which star did Uranus occult in 1977 when the planet's rings were discovered?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-26)

In 1977, Uranus occulted a star, and the starlight flickered 40 minutes before and after the actual occultation, revealing Uranus' rings.  
This is common knowledge to astronomers, but what I can't find out is *which star* Uranus occulted. Can someone give me the name of this star?

**Tags:** history, planetary-ring, uranus
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've just asked [Why was this answer deleted? Is it possible to re-open and this link added to it?](https://astronomy.meta.stackexchange.com/q/490/7982)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-26. Score: 13

From wikipedia, the [rings of uranus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Uranus)

> The definitive discovery of the Uranian Rings [...] use[d] the occultation of the star SAO 158687[...]

The star [SAO 158687](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=SAO%20158687&submit=SIMBAD%20search), also cataloged as [HD 128598](http://news.sky-map.org/starview?object_type=1&object_id=1405322&object_name=HD%20128598&locale=SV) is a magnitude 8.7, orange dwarf star in Libra. There seems to be nothing special about the star, except that one day, a planet passed in front of it.


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