When is the best time to observe 5 Serpentis?

5 Serpentis is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 5 Serpentis located in the sky?

5 Serpentis lies in the constellation Serpens at right ascension 15h 19m and declination +01° 46′.

What telescope do I need to split 5 Serpentis?

Splitting 5 Serpentis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 11.4″ at magnitudes near 5.1. The companion is about 5.0 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

5 Serpentis — Double Star in Serpens

Magnitude 5.1^m DoubleStar Serpens (Ser) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.06

Spectral Type F8III-IV giant

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.54)

Distance 88 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 15h 19m 18.8s

Dec +01° 45' 55.0"

Constellation Serpens (Ser)

HR 5694

HIP 74975

HD 136202

SAO 120946

Flamsteed 5 Ser

Variable ID MQ Ser

Double Cat 9584

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.1 mag Companion 10.1 mag Separation 11.4″

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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	Easy	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 Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple C,D: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 11.4″

Companion Mag 10.1

Position Angle 35°

Star Colors A: Yellow

Discoverer STF1930

Notes

AB binary. Some disagreement as to whether B or C, at 127" from A, is the brighter.

Separation over time

Measured 1825 → 2023 (198 y)

Separation drift 10.7" → 11.4" (+0.70")

Rate +0.0035" / y

PA drift 39° → 35° (-4°, -0.020°/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.