When is the best time to observe Alpha Reticuli?

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

Where is Alpha Reticuli located in the sky?

Alpha Reticuli lies in the constellation Reticulum at right ascension 04h 14m and declination -62° 28′.

What telescope do I need to split Alpha Reticuli?

Splitting Alpha Reticuli requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 48.4″ at magnitudes near 3.4. The companion is about 8.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Alpha Reticuli — Double Star in Reticulum

Magnitude 3.4^m DoubleStar Reticulum (Ret) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Alpha Ret

Description

Alpha Reticuli is a yellow giant of spectral type G8II-III at magnitude 3.35, the brightest star in Reticulum (the Reticle). Located about 163 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of roughly 240 times solar.

Observing Tips

Alpha Ret lies in the far southern sky between the Large Magellanic Cloud and Achernar. Reticulum is a very small, faint constellation. Only visible from the southern hemisphere. Best observed November through January.

History

Reticulum was created by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s and represents the reticle (crosshair) of his telescope — one of several constellations he named after scientific instruments. Alpha Reticuli has no traditional proper name.

Fun Facts

Reticulum is one of the faintest constellations in the sky, but it has gained modern fame as the location of the 'Zeta Reticuli' star system, which features in UFO lore due to the Betty and Barney Hill incident of 1961.

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.35

Spectral Type G8IIIa: bright giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.91)

Distance 162 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 14m 25.5s

Dec -62° 28' 26.0"

Constellation Reticulum (Ret)

HR 1336

HIP 19780

HD 27256

SAO 248969

Bayer Alpha

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 3.4 mag Companion 12.0 mag Separation 48.4″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 48.4″

Companion Mag 12.0

Position Angle 355°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 3638

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2016 (180 y)

Separation drift 50.0" → 48.4" (-1.60")

Rate -0.0089" / y

PA drift 354° → 355° (+1°, +0.006°/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.