When is the best time to observe HIP 117860?

HIP 117860 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 117860 located in the sky?

HIP 117860 lies in the constellation Sculptor at right ascension 23h 54m and declination -27° 03′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 117860?

Splitting HIP 117860 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 6.5″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 117860 — Double Star in Sculptor

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Sculptor (Scl) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.35

Spectral Type A2V+F2V

Star Color White (B-V 0.20)

Distance 544 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 23h 54m 21.4s

Dec -27° 02' 32.0"

Constellation Sculptor (Scl)

HR 9044

HIP 117860

HD 223991

SAO 192231

Double Cat 17090

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 7.4 mag Separation 6.5″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 6.5″

Companion Mag 7.4

Companion Sp F2V

Position Angle 272°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow-white

Discoverer LAL 192

Notes

Companion F2V; vsini 43k/s. Components also classified A = Am(A1/A8V/F0), B = Am(A1/F1/F0).

Separation over time

Measured 1826 → 2018 (192 y)

Separation drift 5.0" → 6.5" (+1.50")

Rate +0.0078" / y

PA drift 270° → 272° (+2°, +0.010°/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.