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38 Lyncis — Double Star in Lynx

Observable Double Star Excellent (60/100)

Sep: 2.6", Companion: mag 6.1

Magnitude 3.8m DoubleStar Lynx (Lyn) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.82
Spectral Type A1V
Star Color White (B-V 0.06)
Distance 125 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 09h 18m 50.7s
Dec +36° 48' 09.0"
Constellation Lynx (Lyn)
HR 3690
HIP 45688
HD 80081
SAO 61391
Flamsteed 38 Lyn
Double Cat 7292
SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 3.8 mag Companion 6.1 mag Separation 2.6″
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Telescope Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
80mm refr. Hard+ Hard+ Hard+
150mm Newt. Medium+ Medium+ Medium+
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 Jan – Mar (peak: Feb)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple

Components 4 (quadruple)
Component IDs AB
Separation 2.6″
Companion Mag 6.1
Position Angle 222°
Star Colors A: White B: Yellow
Discoverer STF1334
AB binary.

Separation over time

Period: 2782.8 y Eccentricity: 0.771 Now: 2.6", PA 222° -0.01" in 5 years
0.00" 0.75" 1.5" 2.3" 3.0" 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2.6"

Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.

Eyepiece View

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80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°
Realistic = true angular size
N E 222°

A: 3.8 · B: 6.1 · Sep: 2.6″ · PA: 222° · N up, E right

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

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7

Size Comparison

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8

Compare Stars

9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
11

Stellar Lifecycle

12

Blackbody Spectrum

13

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

14

Stellar Fusion

Discover

15Stellar Notes

ADS 7292A. RV comp. b, -1k/s, vsini 190k/s.
0.006".
16

Light Travel Time Machine

17

Relativistic Travel

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

NGC 2778
Hard+
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy mag 13.0 2.2° Lynx
66 Cnc
Easy
Easy double, sep 4.5″
Double Star mag 5.82 5.8° Cancer
Sigma Cnc
HIP 44154; Sigma3 Cancri; 64 Cancri
Easy
Easy double, sep 90.3″
Double Star mag 5.20 5.9° Cancer
RS Cnc
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 5.3–6.9
Variable Star mag 5.95 6.1° Cancer
Show on Map

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