When is the best time to observe 5 Aurigae?

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

Where is 5 Aurigae located in the sky?

5 Aurigae lies in the constellation Auriga at right ascension 05h 00m and declination +39° 24′.

What telescope do I need to split 5 Aurigae?

Splitting 5 Aurigae requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.2″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 3.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

5 Aurigae — Double Star in Auriga

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Auriga (Aur) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.95

Spectral Type F5V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.41)

Distance 155 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 00m 18.3s

Dec +39° 23' 41.0"

Constellation Auriga (Aur)

HR 1599

HIP 23261

HD 31761

SAO 57559

Flamsteed 5 Aur

Double Cat 3589

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 9.5 mag Separation 4.2″

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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 Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 4.2″

Companion Mag 9.5

Position Angle 285°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer STT 92

Separation over time

Measured 1843 → 2023 (180 y)

Separation drift 2.7" → 4.2" (+1.50")

Rate +0.0083" / y

PA drift 227° → 285° (+58°, +0.322°/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.