When is the best time to observe 33 Leonis Minoris?

33 Leonis Minoris is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 33 Leonis Minoris located in the sky?

33 Leonis Minoris lies in the constellation Leo Minor at right ascension 10h 32m and declination +32° 23′.

What telescope do I need to split 33 Leonis Minoris?

Splitting 33 Leonis Minoris requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 58.9″ at magnitudes near 5.9. The companion is about 5.9 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

33 Leonis Minoris — Double Star in Leo Minor

Magnitude 5.9^m DoubleStar Leo Minor (LMi) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.90

Spectral Type A0IV subgiant

Star Color White (B-V 0.11)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 10h 31m 51.4s

Dec +32° 22' 46.0"

Constellation Leo Minor (LMi)

HR 4124

HIP 51556

HD 91130

SAO 62101

Flamsteed 33 LMi

Double Cat 7813

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.9 mag Companion 11.8 mag Separation 58.9″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Jan – Mar (peak: Feb)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 58.9″

Companion Mag 11.8

Position Angle 249°

Star Colors A: White

Discoverer HJ 482

Notes

Optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1827 → 2023 (196 y)

Separation drift 25.0" → 58.9" (+33.90")

Rate +0.1730" / y

PA drift 225° → 249° (+24°, +0.122°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

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.