When is the best time to observe 16 Aurigae?

16 Aurigae is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 16 Aurigae located in the sky?

16 Aurigae lies in the constellation Auriga at right ascension 05h 18m and declination +33° 22′.

What telescope do I need to split 16 Aurigae?

Splitting 16 Aurigae requires an aperture of roughly 280 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.2″ at magnitudes near 4.5. The companion is about 6.1 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

16 Aurigae — Double Star in Auriga

Magnitude 4.5^m DoubleStar Auriga (Aur) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.54

Spectral Type K2.5IIIbFe-1 bright giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.27)

Distance 233 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 18m 10.7s

Dec +33° 22' 18.0"

Constellation Auriga (Aur)

HR 1726

HIP 24727

HD 34334

SAO 57853

Flamsteed 16 Aur

Double Cat 3872

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.5 mag Companion 10.6 mag Separation 4.2″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Hard	Hard	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Hard	Hard	Hard

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 280 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 4.2″

Companion Mag 10.6

Position Angle 57°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer STT 103

Notes

CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1848 → 2022 (174 y)

Separation drift 4.3" → 4.2" (-0.10")

Rate -0.0006" / y

PA drift 50° → 57° (+7°, +0.040°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.