A curated selection of 25 showpiece double stars observable with small refractors (≤100mm aperture) from the northern hemisphere. Chosen for color contrast, easy resolvability, and visual beauty.
Publicado por Skybred Publicado em March 01, 2026
25
Total de Objetos
Objetos na Lista
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Albireo
HIP 95947; Beta1 Cyg; 6 Cyg
Albireo
The finest color-contrast double in the sky. Gold and sapphire components at 34.7" separation — split easily at any magnification. Mags 3.1 + 5.0. A must-see at every star party.
DoubleStar · Cyg · Mag 3.1
Fácil
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Almaak
HIP 9640; Gamma1 And; 57 And
Almaak
Often called the 'autumn Albireo'. Gorgeous orange primary with blue-green companion at 9.6" separation. Mags 2.3 + 5.0. Companion is itself a close triple system.
DoubleStar · And · Mag 2.3
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Castor
HIP 36850; Alpha Gem; 66 Gem
Castor
A bright, nearly equal white pair at 6.0" separation. Mags 2.0 + 3.0. Actually a sextuple star system — each visible component is a spectroscopic binary, plus a distant eclipsing binary (YY Gem).
DoubleStar · Gem · Mag 2.0
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Mizar
HIP 65378; Zeta UMa; 79 UMa
Mizar
The most famous double star. Mags 2.3 + 3.0 at 14.4" separation, easily split. Naked-eye pair with Alcor (11.8' away). First telescopic double ever recorded (1617). Both are spectroscopic binaries.
DoubleStar · UMa · Mag 2.3
Fácil
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Algieba
HIP 50583; Gamma1 Leo; 41 Leo
Algieba
A splendid golden pair of giant stars. Mags 2.6 + 3.6 at 4.5" separation. Both components shine warm yellow-orange. Needs 50x+ to split cleanly, but well worth the effort.
DoubleStar · Leo · Mag 2.6
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Alpha2 CVn
HIP 63125; Alpha2 CVn; 12 CVn
COR CAROLI
Named by Edmond Halley in honor of King Charles II. Mags 2.9 + 5.5 at 19.4" separation. White primary with subtle blue companion. The primary is the prototype of the Alpha² CVn magnetic variable stars.
DoubleStar · CVn · Mag 2.9
Fácil
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Izar
HIP 72105; Epsilon Boo; 36 Boo
Izar
Struve named it 'Pulcherrima' — the Most Beautiful. Gold primary with blue companion at just 2.8" separation. Mags 2.7 + 4.8. A tight test for 60mm refractors; clean in 80mm+. One of the sky's great jewels.
DoubleStar · Boo · Mag 2.7
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Rasalgethi
HIP 84345; Alpha1 Her; 64 Her
Rasalgethi
Deep orange supergiant primary with blue-green companion at 4.9" separation. Mags 3.5 + 5.4. The primary is a semiregular variable (mag 3.0–4.0). Stunning color contrast.
DoubleStar · Her · Mag 3.5
Fácil
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Achird
HIP 3821; Eta Cas; 24 Cas
Achird
Golden-yellow primary with a faint reddish companion (a K-type red dwarf) at 11.6" separation. Mags 3.4 + 7.4. A nearby star system at just 19.4 light-years. Circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes.
DoubleStar · Cas · Mag 3.4
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Iota Cnc
HIP 43103; Iota Cnc; 48 Cnc
Iota Cnc
A lovely gold-and-blue pair at a generous 30.4" separation. Mags 4.0 + 6.0. One of the finest doubles in Cancer, sometimes called a 'mini-Albireo'. Easily split in any telescope.
DoubleStar · Cnc · Mag 4.0
Fácil
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Gamma Del
HIP 102532; Gamma2 Del; 12 Del
Gamma Del
A warm golden pair in the charming constellation Delphinus. Mags 4.3 + 5.0 at 9.8" separation. Some observers see subtle orange and yellow-green tints. A delightful summer target.
DoubleStar · Del · Mag 4.3
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Dziban
HIP 86614; Psi1 Dra; 31 Dra
Dziban
An easy near-equal pair at 30.2" separation. Mags 4.6 + 5.6. Both white-yellow stars. Circumpolar from northern latitudes, making it available year-round. A pleasant, clean split.
DoubleStar · Dra · Mag 4.6
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Nu² Dra
HIP 85829; Nu Dra; 25 Dra
Identical twins — two mag 4.9 white stars separated by a generous 62.3". Easily split in binoculars or a finder scope. A true binary with an orbital period of thousands of years. Circumpolar.
DoubleStar · Dra · Mag 4.9
Fácil
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61 Cyg
HIP 104214; 61 Cyg
Historic: the first star to have its distance measured by parallax (Bessel, 1838). Mags 5.2 + 6.1 at 28.7" separation. Two orange K-dwarf stars. Only 11.4 light-years away — one of our nearest stellar neighbors.
DoubleStar · Cyg · Mag 5.2
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95 Her
HIP 88267; 95 Her
A beautiful near-equal pair. Mags 5.0 + 5.2 at 6.3" separation. Some observers report subtle gold and silver tints. Cleanly split at 80x+ in small apertures. A fine summer double.
DoubleStar · Her · Mag 5.0
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Beta Mon
HIP 30867; Beta Mon; 11 Mon
Beta Mon
An exquisite triple star system: three white-blue stars in a gentle arc. Mags 4.6 + 5.0 + 5.4. William Herschel called it 'one of the most beautiful sights in the heavens'. The closer pair at 7.1", outer at 10".
DoubleStar · Mon · Mag 4.6
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Mintaka
HIP 25930; Delta Ori; 34 Ori
Mintaka
The westernmost star of Orion's Belt. Mags 2.2 + 3.8 at a wide 51.7" separation. Both components are hot blue-white supergiants. An easy and impressive pair in any instrument, even binoculars.
DoubleStar · Ori · Mag 2.2
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Epsilon¹ Lyr
HIP 91919; Epsilon1 Lyr; 4 Lyr
The famous Double-Double near Vega. Naked eye or binoculars show two stars 209" apart. Each star splits again into tight pairs (2.3" and 2.8") at 150x+ — the classic refractor resolution test.
DoubleStar · Lyr · Mag 5.1
Médio+
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Xi Boo
HIP 72659; Xi Boo; 37 Boo
Orange primary with red dwarf companion at 7.2" separation. Mags 4.6 + 7.0. A nearby system at 22 light-years. The color contrast intensifies at higher magnification. 370-year orbital period.
DoubleStar · Boo · Mag 4.5
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Alrescha
HIP 9487; Alpha Psc; 113 Psc
Alrescha
The 'Knot' tying the two fish of Pisces. Mags 4.3 + 5.2 at 4.0" separation. A near-equal white pair that requires steady seeing and 100x+. Currently widening — easier to split each passing decade.
DoubleStar · Psc · Mag 4.3
Médio+
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Kappa Boo
HIP 69483; Kappa2 Boo; 17 Boo
Kappa Boo
A clean unequal pair with a white primary and fainter companion at 13.4" separation. Mags 4.5 + 6.6. Easy to split and a fine sight in a rich Milky Way field. A true physical binary system.
DoubleStar · Boo · Mag 4.5
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Rigel
HIP 24436; Beta Ori; 19 Ori
Rigel
A glare challenge: the mag 6.8 companion hides just 9.5" from the brilliant blue-white supergiant. Requires steady seeing, clean optics, and 150x+. Rewarding when caught — a classic test of refractor quality.
DoubleStar · Ori · Mag 0.1
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Epsilon Mon
HIP 30419; Epsilon Mon; 8 Mon
A delicate unequal pair in the Unicorn. Mags 4.4 + 6.6 at 12.9" separation. Subtle yellow and blue tints. A pleasant winter double, best at moderate magnification.
DoubleStar · Mon · Mag 4.4
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24 Com
HIP 61418; 24 Com
A lovely gold and blue pair at 20.2" separation. Mags 5.0 + 6.8. Set in a beautiful field of faint stars in Coma Berenices. Often overlooked, but one of the prettiest spring doubles.
DoubleStar · Com · Mag 5.0
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Lambda Gem
HIP 35350; Lambda Gem; 54 Gem
An attractive unequal pair. Mags 3.6 + 5.0 at 9.7" separation. White primary with slightly cooler companion. A fine winter double easily split at moderate magnification.
DoubleStar · Gem · Mag 3.6
Difícil+
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