When is the best time to observe HIP 103071?

HIP 103071 is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 103071 located in the sky?

HIP 103071 lies in the constellation Capricornus at right ascension 20h 53m and declination -23° 47′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 103071?

Splitting HIP 103071 requires an aperture of roughly 150 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.4″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 103071 — Double Star in Capricornus

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Capricornus (Cap) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.33

Spectral Type K0III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.88)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 20h 53m 01.2s

Dec -23° 46' 59.0"

Constellation Capricornus (Cap)

HR 7989

HIP 103071

HD 198732

SAO 189801

Double Cat 14380

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 8.6 mag Separation 1.4″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Jun – Aug (peak: Jul)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 1.4″

Companion Mag 8.6

Position Angle 198°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 3003

Notes

CPM. G8III-IV + G2.5IV.

Separation over time

Measured 1830 → 2016 (186 y)

Separation drift 3.0" → 1.4" (-1.60")

Rate -0.0086" / y

PA drift 217° → 198° (-19°, -0.102°/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.