When is the best time to observe 31 Virginis?

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

Where is 31 Virginis located in the sky?

31 Virginis lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 12h 42m and declination +06° 48′.

What telescope do I need to split 31 Virginis?

Splitting 31 Virginis requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.1″ at magnitudes near 5.6. The companion is about 4.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

31 Virginis — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 5.6^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.59

Spectral Type A2V

Star Color White (B-V 0.00)

Distance 272 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 41m 57.1s

Dec +06° 48' 24.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4829

HIP 61968

HD 110423

SAO 119538

Flamsteed 31 Vir

Double Cat 8633

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.6 mag Companion 10.1 mag Separation 4.1″

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

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 4.1″

Companion Mag 10.1

Position Angle 40°

Star Colors A: White B: Orange

Discoverer BU 924

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2018 (139 y)

Separation drift 3.6" → 4.1" (+0.50")

Rate +0.0036" / y

PA drift 29° → 40° (+11°, +0.079°/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.