When is the best time to observe HIP 116539?

HIP 116539 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 116539 located in the sky?

HIP 116539 lies in the constellation Sculptor at right ascension 23h 37m and declination -31° 52′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 116539?

Splitting HIP 116539 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.5″ at magnitudes near 6.5. The companion is about 3.4 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 116539 — Double Star in Sculptor

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Sculptor (Scl) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.52

Spectral Type K1III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.26)

Distance 1,087 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 23h 37m 05.4s

Dec -31° 52' 15.0"

Constellation Sculptor (Scl)

HR 8956

HIP 116539

HD 222004

SAO 214659

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 9.9 mag Separation 5.5″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium	Medium	Hard+
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Medium+
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 Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.5″

Companion Mag 9.9

Position Angle 251°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer HWE 93

Notes

Components K2.5IIIb and F9V.

Separation over time

Measured 1877 → 2016 (139 y)

Separation drift 5.5" → 5.5" (+0.00")

Rate +0.0000" / y

PA drift 250° → 251° (+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.