When is the best time to observe 49 Leonis?

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

Where is 49 Leonis located in the sky?

49 Leonis lies in the constellation Leo at right ascension 10h 35m and declination +08° 39′.

What telescope do I need to split 49 Leonis?

Splitting 49 Leonis requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.1″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

49 Leonis — Double Star in Leo

Observable Double Star Good (52/100)

Sep: 2.1", Companion: mag 7.9

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Leo Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.67

Range 5.66 - 5.75

Period 2.4 days

Variable Type Eclipsing Binary (Algol-type)

Spectral Type A2V

Star Color White (B-V 0.05)

Distance 652 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 10h 35m 02.2s

Dec +08° 39' 01.0"

Constellation Leo

HR 4148

HIP 51802

HD 91636

SAO 118380

Flamsteed 49 Leo

Variable ID TX Leo

Double Cat 7837

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 7.9 mag Separation 2.1″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	Hard	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+
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 Jan – Mar (peak: Feb)

5Light Curve

6Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Separation 2.1″

Companion Mag 7.9

Position Angle 155°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow-white

Discoverer STF1450

Notes

A is SB. Visual companion 8.5v at 2.4"; CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1825 → 2021 (196 y)

Separation drift 2.4" → 2.1" (-0.30")

Rate -0.0015" / y

PA drift 161° → 155° (-6°, -0.031°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.