When is the best time to observe 52 Cygni?

52 Cygni is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 52 Cygni located in the sky?

52 Cygni lies in the constellation Cygnus at right ascension 20h 46m and declination +30° 43′.

What telescope do I need to split 52 Cygni?

Splitting 52 Cygni requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.8″ at magnitudes near 4.2. The companion is about 5.3 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

52 Cygni — Double Star in Cygnus

Magnitude 4.2^m DoubleStar Cygnus (Cyg) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.22

Spectral Type G9.5III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.05)

Distance 217 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 20h 45m 39.7s

Dec +30° 43' 11.0"

Constellation Cygnus (Cyg)

HR 7942

HIP 102453

HD 197912

SAO 70467

Flamsteed 52 Cyg

Double Cat 14259

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.2 mag Companion 9.5 mag Separation 5.8″

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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	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Jun – Aug (peak: Jul)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.8″

Companion Mag 9.5

Position Angle 74°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer STF2726

Separation over time

Measured 1825 → 2021 (196 y)

Separation drift 7.2" → 5.8" (-1.40")

Rate -0.0071" / y

PA drift 57° → 74° (+17°, +0.087°/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.