When is the best time to observe 72 Virginis?

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

Where is 72 Virginis located in the sky?

72 Virginis lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 13h 30m and declination -06° 28′.

What telescope do I need to split 72 Virginis?

Splitting 72 Virginis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 30.1″ at magnitudes near 6.1. The companion is about 4.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

72 Virginis — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.09

Spectral Type F2V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.33)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 30m 25.7s

Dec -06° 28' 13.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 5088

HIP 65892

HD 117436

SAO 139370

Flamsteed 72 Vir

Double Cat 8924

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 10.7 mag Separation 30.1″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium	Hard+	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Medium+	Medium+

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 30.1″

Companion Mag 10.7

Position Angle 17°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer STF1750

Notes

Binary.

Separation over time

Measured 1828 → 2016 (188 y)

Separation drift 25.0" → 30.1" (+5.10")

Rate +0.0271" / y

PA drift 25° → 17° (-8°, -0.043°/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.