When is the best time to observe 17 Virginis?

17 Virginis is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 17 Virginis located in the sky?

17 Virginis lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 12h 23m and declination +05° 18′.

What telescope do I need to split 17 Virginis?

Splitting 17 Virginis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 21.0″ at magnitudes near 6.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

17 Virginis — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 8.0–9.5^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.40

Spectral Type F8V

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.60)

Distance 121 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 22m 32.0s

Dec +05° 18' 20.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4708

HIP 60353

HD 107705

SAO 119360

Flamsteed 17 Vir

Double Cat 8531

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.3 mag Separation 21.0″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	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 Feb – Apr (peak: Mar)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 21.0″

Companion Mag 9.3

Position Angle 338°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Orange

Discoverer STF1636

Notes

Binary. Secondary is dK5.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2022 (240 y)

Separation drift 20.2" → 21.0" (+0.80")

Rate +0.0033" / y

PA drift 328° → 338° (+10°, +0.042°/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.