When is the best time to observe HIP 109659?

HIP 109659 is best observed from July through September, with peak visibility during August when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 109659 located in the sky?

HIP 109659 lies in the constellation Cepheus at right ascension 22h 13m and declination +73° 18′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 109659?

Splitting HIP 109659 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 28.8″ at magnitudes near 6.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 109659 — Double Star in Cepheus

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Cepheus (Cep) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.08

Range 6.07 - 6.11

Variable Type ROT:

Spectral Type K0II-III+A3V bright giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.01)

Distance 217 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 22h 12m 52.9s

Dec +73° 18' 26.0"

Constellation Cepheus (Cep)

HR 8493

HIP 109659

HD 211300

SAO 10284

Double Cat 15764

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 7.9 mag Separation 28.8″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 Jul – Sep (peak: Aug)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 28.8″

Companion Mag 7.9

Position Angle 346°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer STF2893

Notes

CPM. Companion A3V.

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2024 (242 y)

Separation drift 28.1" → 28.8" (+0.70")

Rate +0.0029" / y

PA drift 349° → 346° (-3°, -0.012°/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.