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The Wolf-Rayet star WR 121 is shown with the odd comment that it
"is not WR 121". The star is also given as V1485 Aql and NSV 11276. Checking
the GCVS query page shows there is a mix-up in SIMBAD, evidently from
identification mix-ups in the literature.
The SIMBAD header IDs and data for WR 121 seem to be correct _except_:
NSV 11276 = IRC +00370 = IRAS 18416-0352: 18 44 16.28 -03 48 54.5 (J2000,
from GSC-2.2)
The IRAS and IRC positions are close to this very-red star, but far from the
WR star. (WR 121 is certainly not an IRAS source, and is not in the MSX
catalogue.) The IRC photometry listed in SIMBAD for WR 121 applies to the red
star for certain. From other evidence it looks as though the JP11 H and K
magnitudes are also for this red star: the WR star is not so bright at these
wavelengths. (The UBV data for WR 121 are correct.) Apriamshivili
(1964AbaOB..31...27A) shows spectral type M8e while Vogt (1973AJ.....78..389V)
gives type M7. The TASS MkIII photometry is V = 13.6 and V-I = 5.8 (!).
A confusing paper is 1974PASP...86..464W, which gives a finder chart
for the IRC source, which is incorrectly called IRC -00370. This paper is the
source finder chart cited in the NSV for NSV 11276. However, they mark another
star entirely---not the WR star and not the very-red star, but a third red
star at: 18 43 53.21 -03 46 12.6 (J2000, GSC-2.2), for which they give type
M3III. It is an MSX source, and the TASS MkIII V=13.1 and V-I=3.5. This is
certainly a red star, but it is not the IRC/IRAS source nor the WR star.
\Brian
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