When is the best time to observe HIP 16672?

HIP 16672 is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 16672 located in the sky?

HIP 16672 lies in the constellation Fornax at right ascension 03h 35m and declination -31° 52′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 16672?

Splitting HIP 16672 requires an aperture of roughly 300 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.4″ at magnitudes near 6.4. The companion is about 3.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 16672 — Double Star in Fornax

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Fornax (For) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.40

Spectral Type K3III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.40)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 34m 33.5s

Dec -31° 52' 29.0"

Constellation Fornax (For)

HR 1095

HIP 16672

HD 22322

SAO 194379

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.9 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.	V. hard+	V. hard+	V. hard+
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Hard	Hard	Hard

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 300 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 1.4″

Companion Mag 9.9

Position Angle 226°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer B 53

Separation over time

Measured 1926 → 2016 (90 y)

Separation drift 1.5" → 1.4" (-0.10")

Rate -0.0011" / y

PA drift 223° → 226° (+3°, +0.033°/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.