When is the best time to observe Atik?

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

Where is Atik located in the sky?

Atik lies in the constellation Perseus at right ascension 03h 44m and declination +32° 17′.

What telescope do I need to split Atik?

Splitting Atik requires an aperture of roughly 290 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.1″ at magnitudes near 3.8. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Atik — Double Star in Perseus

HIP 17448; 38 Persei

Observable Double Star Fair (28/100)

Sep: 1.1", Companion: mag 6.7

Magnitude 3.8^m DoubleStar Perseus (Per) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Atik

Description

Atik, 38 Persei (also known as Omicron Persei), is a blue B1 III giant about 1,120 light-years away. It is part of the Perseus OB2 stellar association, a grouping of young massive stars. Atik shines at magnitude 3.83 and has an estimated mass of 15 solar masses. It is a spectroscopic binary with a close B-type companion in an eccentric 4.4-year orbit.

Observing Tips

Atik lies near the southern edge of Perseus, close to the star-rich Milky Way. A good pair of binoculars reveals the rich star fields surrounding it. The companion is far too close to split visually; Atik appears in the eyepiece as a single bright blue-white point. Best observed September through February.

History

The name Atik (also transliterated as 'Ateek') comes from the Arabic "al-'ātiq," meaning "the shoulder" — referring to Perseus's shoulder in the traditional star-figure. The IAU adopted the name in 2016.

Fun Facts

Atik's stellar winds and the winds of its Perseus OB2 companions have carved out a large cavity in the surrounding interstellar medium, detectable in H-alpha imagery. The star will end its life as a Type II supernova within the next few million years.

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.83

Range 3.79 - 3.88

Period 4.4 days

Variable Type Ellipsoidal Variable

Spectral Type B1III giant

Star Color White (B-V 0.05)

Distance 1,121 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 44m 19.1s

Dec +32° 17' 18.0"

Constellation Perseus (Per)

HR 1131

HIP 17448

HD 23180

SAO 56673

Flamsteed 38 Per

Variable ID Omi Per

Double Cat 2726

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 3.8 mag Companion 6.7 mag Separation 1.1″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 290 mm reflector.

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Light Curve

6Multiple Star System

Separation 1.1″

Companion Mag 6.7

Position Angle 20°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow

Discoverer BU 535

Notes

Binary. Combined mag., colors. Rotational velocity B, 150:k/s. Unresolved by speckle interferometry 1982.16.

Separation over time

Measured 1877 → 2023 (146 y)

Separation drift 1.0" → 1.1" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0007" / y

PA drift 61° → 20° (-41°, -0.281°/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.