When is the best time to observe 30 Tauri?

30 Tauri is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 30 Tauri located in the sky?

30 Tauri lies in the constellation Taurus at right ascension 03h 48m and declination +11° 09′.

What telescope do I need to split 30 Tauri?

Splitting 30 Tauri requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 9.2″ at magnitudes near 5.1. The companion is about 4.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

30 Tauri — Double Star in Taurus

Magnitude 5.1^m DoubleStar Taurus (Tau) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.07

Spectral Type B3V+F5V

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.13)

Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 48m 16.3s

Dec +11° 08' 36.0"

Constellation Taurus (Tau)

HR 1174

HIP 17771

HD 23793

SAO 93611

Flamsteed 30 Tau

Double Cat 2778

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.1 mag Companion 9.8 mag Separation 9.2″

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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	Medium+
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 9.2″

Companion Mag 9.8

Companion Sp F5V

Position Angle 60°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Yellow-white

Discoverer STF 452

Notes

Binary.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2016 (234 y)

Separation drift 11.3" → 9.2" (-2.10")

Rate -0.0090" / y

PA drift 73° → 60° (-13°, -0.056°/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.