When is the best time to observe 44 Virginis?

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

Where is 44 Virginis located in the sky?

44 Virginis lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 12h 60m and declination -03° 49′.

What telescope do I need to split 44 Virginis?

Splitting 44 Virginis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 20.6″ at magnitudes near 5.8. 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.

44 Virginis — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 5.8^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.79

Spectral Type A3V

Star Color White (B-V 0.18)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 59m 39.5s

Dec -03° 48' 43.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4921

HIP 63414

HD 112846

SAO 139086

Flamsteed 44 Vir

Double Cat 8727

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.8 mag Companion 10.3 mag Separation 20.6″

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

Components 3 (triple)

Separation 20.6″

Companion Mag 10.3

Position Angle 54°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow

Discoverer STF1704

Notes

CPM. Component A suspected occultation double.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2017 (235 y)

Separation drift 22.3" → 20.6" (-1.70")

Rate -0.0072" / y

PA drift 58° → 54° (-4°, -0.017°/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.