When is the best time to observe 32 Eridani?

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

Where is 32 Eridani located in the sky?

32 Eridani lies in the constellation Eridanus at right ascension 03h 54m and declination -02° 57′.

What telescope do I need to split 32 Eridani?

Splitting 32 Eridani requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 6.9″ at magnitudes near 4.8. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

32 Eridani — Double Star in Eridanus

Observable Double Star Showpiece (78/100)

Sep: 6.9", Companion: mag 5.9

Magnitude 4.8^m DoubleStar Eridanus (Eri) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.79

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.94)

Distance 815 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 54m 17.5s

Dec -02° 57' 17.0"

Constellation Eridanus (Eri)

HR 1212

HIP 18255

HD 24555

SAO 130806

Flamsteed 32 Eri

Double Cat 2850

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.8 mag Companion 5.9 mag Separation 6.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 6.9″

Companion Mag 5.9

Companion Sp A2V

Position Angle 349°

Star Colors A: Orange B: White

Discoverer STF 470

Notes

Binary with HR 1211.

Separation over time

Measured 1781 → 2021 (240 y)

Separation drift 4.3" → 6.9" (+2.60")

Rate +0.0108" / y

PA drift 343° → 349° (+6°, +0.025°/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.