When is the best time to observe 12 Scorpii?

12 Scorpii is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 12 Scorpii located in the sky?

12 Scorpii lies in the constellation Scorpius at right ascension 16h 12m and declination -28° 25′.

What telescope do I need to split 12 Scorpii?

Splitting 12 Scorpii requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.8″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

12 Scorpii — Double Star in Scorpius

Observable Double Star Good (53/100)

Sep: 3.8", Companion: mag 8.1

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Scorpius (Sco) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.67

Spectral Type B9V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.01)

Distance 155 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 12m 15.9s

Dec -28° 25' 03.0"

Constellation Scorpius (Sco)

HR 6029

HIP 79399

HD 145483

SAO 184217

Flamsteed 12 Sco

Double Cat 9953

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 8.1 mag Separation 3.8″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium	Medium	Medium
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Easy
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Easy	Easy

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 3.8″

Companion Mag 8.1

Position Angle 69°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer HJ 4839

Notes

Binary, companion F3V.

Separation over time

Measured 1834 → 2016 (182 y)

Separation drift 3.0" → 3.8" (+0.80")

Rate +0.0044" / y

PA drift 85° → 69° (-16°, -0.088°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.