When is the best time to observe Gamma Arietis?

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

Where is Gamma Arietis located in the sky?

Gamma Arietis lies in the constellation Aries at right ascension 01h 54m and declination +19° 18′.

What telescope do I need to split Gamma Arietis?

Splitting Gamma Arietis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 214.0″ at magnitudes near 4.8. The companion is about 3.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Gamma Arietis — Double Star in Aries

HIP 8832; Gamma1 Arietis; 5 Arietis

Observable Double Star Fair (36/100)

Sep: 214.0", Companion: mag 8.6

Magnitude 4.8^m DoubleStar Aries (Ari) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.83

Spectral Type B9V

Distance 125 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 53m 31.8s

Dec +19° 17' 45.0"

Constellation Aries (Ari)

HR 545

HIP 8832

HD 11503

SAO 92681

Bayer Gamma1

Flamsteed 5 Ari

Variable ID Var?

Double Cat 1507

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.8 mag Companion 8.6 mag Separation 214.0″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 214.0″

Companion Mag 8.6

Position Angle 83°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Blue-white

Discoverer STF 180

Notes

Binary with HR 546, q.v. Combined mag. HR 545/6, 3.88V; colors also combined.

Separation over time

Measured 1907 → 2015 (108 y)

Separation drift 221.6" → 214.0" (-7.60")

Rate -0.0704" / y

PA drift 86° → 83° (-3°, -0.028°/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.

Eyepiece View

Telescope Eyepiece

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32x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 1.6°

Seeing

Scale Realistic = true angular size

A: 4.8 · B: 8.6 · Sep: 214.0″ · PA: 83° · 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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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map

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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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14Stellar Notes

Variable Star

Sp. var. 38 min.

Dynamical

0.019".

Alternative Names

The HD numbers and other data, especially spectral classes, for HR 545-6 have frequently been interchanged. HD 11502 is | the brighter = HR 546, while HD 11503 = HR 545 is the slightly fainter N. prec. component B of ADS 1507.

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