Jérôme Lalande
The first known recorded observation of VY Canis Majoris is in the star catalogue of the French astronomer Jérôme Lalande in 1801, which lists it as a 7th order of magnitude star. Further quite frequent studies of its apparent magnitude imply the light of the star as viewed from Earth has faded since 1850 which could be due to emission changes or a denser part of its surrounds becoming interposed (extinction).