When is the best time to observe 41 Aurigae?

41 Aurigae is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 41 Aurigae located in the sky?

41 Aurigae lies in the constellation Auriga at right ascension 06h 12m and declination +48° 43′.

What telescope do I need to split 41 Aurigae?

Splitting 41 Aurigae requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 7.5″ at magnitudes near 6.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

41 Aurigae — Double Star in Auriga

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Auriga (Aur) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.09

Spectral Type A3V

Star Color White (B-V 0.10)

Distance 326 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 11m 36.6s

Dec +48° 42' 40.0"

Constellation Auriga (Aur)

HR 2176

HIP 29388

HD 42126

SAO 40924

Flamsteed 41 Aur

Double Cat 4773

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 7.5″

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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 Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 7.5″

Companion Mag 6.9

Companion Sp A6V

Position Angle 358°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow-white

Discoverer STF 845

Notes

Binary with HR 2175.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2019 (237 y)

Separation drift 8.5" → 7.5" (-1.00")

Rate -0.0042" / y

PA drift 350° → 358° (+8°, +0.034°/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.