When is the best time to observe 62 Eridani?

62 Eridani is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 62 Eridani located in the sky?

62 Eridani lies in the constellation Eridanus at right ascension 04h 56m and declination -05° 10′.

What telescope do I need to split 62 Eridani?

Splitting 62 Eridani requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 66.1″ at magnitudes near 5.5. The companion is about 3.4 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

62 Eridani — Double Star in Eridanus

Observable Double Star Good (49/100)

Sep: 66.1", Companion: mag 8.9

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Eridanus (Eri) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.51

Spectral Type B6V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.13)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 56m 24.2s

Dec -05° 10' 17.0"

Constellation Eridanus (Eri)

HR 1582

HIP 22958

HD 31512

SAO 131614

Flamsteed 62 Eri

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 8.9 mag Separation 66.1″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Medium+	Medium+
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 66.1″

Companion Mag 8.9

Position Angle 76°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow

Discoverer SHJ 48

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2013 (231 y)

Separation drift 60.4" → 66.1" (+5.70")

Rate +0.0247" / y

PA drift 75° → 76° (+1°, +0.004°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

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.