When is the best time to observe HIP 103414?

HIP 103414 is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 103414 located in the sky?

HIP 103414 lies in the constellation Aquarius at right ascension 20h 57m and declination +00° 28′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 103414?

Splitting HIP 103414 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 26.3″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 5.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 103414 — Double Star in Aquarius

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Aquarius (Aqr) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.05

Spectral Type K2III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.22)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 20h 57m 10.6s

Dec +00° 27' 49.0"

Constellation Aquarius (Aqr)

HR 8017

HIP 103414

HD 199442

SAO 126396

Double Cat 14457

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 11.8 mag Separation 26.3″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	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

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Best season Jun – Aug (peak: Jul)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 26.3″

Companion Mag 11.8

Position Angle 71°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer HWE 55

Notes

AB, CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2016 (137 y)

Separation drift 26.2" → 26.3" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0007" / y

PA drift 72° → 71° (-1°, -0.007°/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.