[1] Σ 1694 is a double star, with components of magnitudes 5.3m and 5.9m: Norton's Star Atlas describes the pair as yellowish and bluish.
In the British Association Catalogue, the star pair are listed as being in Ursa Minor.
[3] Consequently, Σ 1694 itself is known as 北極五 (Běi Jí wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of North Pole.
),[4] representing 天樞 (Tiānshū), meaning Celestial Pivot.
[5] This star was regarded as the north star by the Chinese people from the Han dynasty to Song dynasty.