When is the best time to observe 96 Aquarii?

96 Aquarii is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is 96 Aquarii located in the sky?

96 Aquarii lies in the constellation Aquarius at right ascension 23h 19m and declination -05° 07′.

What telescope do I need to split 96 Aquarii?

Splitting 96 Aquarii requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 11.0″ at magnitudes near 5.5. The companion is about 4.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

96 Aquarii — Double Star in Aquarius

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Aquarius (Aqr) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.55

Spectral Type F3IV-V subgiant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.39)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 23h 19m 24.0s

Dec -05° 07' 28.0"

Constellation Aquarius (Aqr)

HR 8868

HIP 115142

HD 219877

SAO 146639

Flamsteed 96 Aqr

Double Cat 16676

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.6 mag Companion 10.4 mag Separation 11.0″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 11.0″

Companion Mag 10.4

Position Angle 20°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Red

Discoverer HJ 5394

Notes

CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1869 → 2015 (146 y)

Separation drift 9.9" → 11.0" (+1.10")

Rate +0.0075" / y

PA drift 24° → 20° (-4°, -0.027°/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.