When is the best time to observe 54 Virginis?

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

Where is 54 Virginis located in the sky?

54 Virginis lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 13h 13m and declination -18° 50′.

What telescope do I need to split 54 Virginis?

Splitting 54 Virginis requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.4″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

54 Virginis — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.28

Spectral Type B9III giant

Star Color White (B-V 0.09)

Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 13m 26.8s

Dec -18° 49' 36.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4990

HIP 64520

HD 114846

SAO 157798

Flamsteed 54 Vir

Double Cat 8824

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 7.2 mag Separation 5.4″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.4″

Companion Mag 7.2

Companion Sp A1V

Position Angle 33°

Star Colors A: White B: White

Discoverer SHJ 161

Notes

Binary.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2018 (236 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 5.4" (+1.40")

Rate +0.0059" / y

PA drift 33° → 33° (+0°, +0.000°/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.