When is the best time to observe 63 Eridani?

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

Where is 63 Eridani located in the sky?

63 Eridani lies in the constellation Eridanus at right ascension 04h 60m and declination -10° 16′.

What telescope do I need to split 63 Eridani?

Splitting 63 Eridani requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 297.9″ at magnitudes near 5.4. The companion is about 3.1 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

63 Eridani — Double Star in Eridanus

Observable Double Star Fair (36/100)

Sep: 297.9", Companion: mag 8.5

Magnitude 5.4^m DoubleStar Eridanus (Eri) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.38

Spectral Type G4V

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.80)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 59m 50.4s

Dec -10° 15' 48.0"

Constellation Eridanus (Eri)

HR 1608

HIP 23221

HD 32008

SAO 150060

Flamsteed 63 Eri

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.4 mag Companion 8.5 mag Separation 297.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	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 297.9″

Companion Mag 8.5

Companion Sp DA2

Position Angle 221°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Red

Discoverer TOK 252

Separation over time

Measured 1903 → 2016 (113 y)

Separation drift 297.8" → 297.9" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0009" / y

PA drift 221° → 221° (+0°, +0.000°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.