When is the best time to observe HIP 17436?

HIP 17436 is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 17436 located in the sky?

HIP 17436 lies in the constellation Eridanus at right ascension 03h 44m and declination -40° 40′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 17436?

Splitting HIP 17436 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.0″ at magnitudes near 6.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 17436 — Double Star in Eridanus

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Eridanus (Eri) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.45

Spectral Type K1III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.06)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 44m 06.2s

Dec -40° 39' 37.0"

Constellation Eridanus (Eri)

HR 1157

HIP 17436

HD 23508

SAO 216459

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 9.3 mag Separation 5.0″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.0″

Companion Mag 9.3

Position Angle 350°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 3589

Notes

CPM. Primary K1IIIab, secondary G3IV.

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2016 (180 y)

Separation drift 6.5" → 5.0" (-1.50")

Rate -0.0083" / y

PA drift 346° → 350° (+4°, +0.022°/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.