When is the best time to observe Delta Scuti?

Delta Scuti is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Delta Scuti located in the sky?

Delta Scuti lies in the constellation Scutum at right ascension 18h 42m and declination -09° 03′.

What telescope do I need to split Delta Scuti?

Splitting Delta Scuti requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 52.3″ at magnitudes near 4.7. The companion is about 5.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Delta Scuti — Double Star in Scutum

Magnitude 4.6–4.8^m DoubleStar Scutum (Sct) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.72

Range 4.60 - 4.79

Period 4.7 hours

Variable Type Delta Scuti (Pulsating)

Spectral Type F2IIIpDel Del bright giant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.35)

Distance 130 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 42m 16.4s

Dec -09° 03' 09.0"

Constellation Scutum (Sct)

HR 7020

HIP 91726

HD 172748

Bayer Delta

Variable ID Del Sct

Double Cat 11581

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.7 mag Companion 10.6 mag Separation 52.3″

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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 May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Light Curve

6Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 52.3″

Companion Mag 10.6

Position Angle 131°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white

Discoverer H 5 36

Notes

Component B, 10v, gK, optical. AC, CPM? A may be close binary, about 10d orbital period.

Separation over time

Measured 1831 → 2016 (185 y)

Separation drift 55.0" → 52.3" (-2.70")

Rate -0.0146" / y

PA drift 134° → 131° (-3°, -0.016°/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.

Eyepiece View

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80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°

Seeing

Scale Realistic = true angular size

A: 4.7 · B: 10.6 · Sep: 52.3″ · PA: 131° · N up, E right

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

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Size Comparison

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Spectral Classification

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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Stellar Lifecycle

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Blackbody Spectrum

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Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

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Stellar Fusion

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15Stellar Notes

Variable Star

ADS 11581A, Delta Sct 4.98 - 5.16B, 0.193770d, 0.11636d. Beat period 5.24774d. Other periods 0.095129, 0.186872, | 0.838d. This "prototype" Delta Sct star is the least typical of its class.

Group/Cluster

Hyades group.

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