When is the best time to observe 26 Ceti?

26 Ceti is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 26 Ceti located in the sky?

26 Ceti lies in the constellation Cetus at right ascension 01h 04m and declination +01° 22′.

What telescope do I need to split 26 Ceti?

Splitting 26 Ceti requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 15.9″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 3.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

26 Ceti — Double Star in Cetus

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Cetus (Cet) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.04

Spectral Type F1V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.27)

Distance 136 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 03m 49.0s

Dec +01° 22' 00.0"

Constellation Cetus (Cet)

HR 301

HIP 4979

HD 6288

SAO 109643

Flamsteed 26 Cet

Double Cat 875

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 9.5 mag Separation 15.9″

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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 Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 15.9″

Companion Mag 9.5

Position Angle 254°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer STF 84

Notes

AB binary. Component B, G8V.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2024 (242 y)

Separation drift 17.1" → 15.9" (-1.20")

Rate -0.0050" / y

PA drift 255° → 254° (-1°, -0.004°/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.