When is the best time to observe HIP 21253?

HIP 21253 is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 21253 located in the sky?

HIP 21253 lies in the constellation Reticulum at right ascension 04h 34m and declination -62° 49′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 21253?

Splitting HIP 21253 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 31.8″ at magnitudes near 5.8. 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 21253 — Double Star in Reticulum

Magnitude 5.8^m DoubleStar Reticulum (Ret) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.79

Spectral Type K1III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.04)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 33m 34.0s

Dec -62° 49' 25.0"

Constellation Reticulum (Ret)

HR 1475

HIP 21253

HD 29399

SAO 249054

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.8 mag Companion 9.3 mag Separation 31.8″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	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 31.8″

Companion Mag 9.3

Position Angle 100°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 3670

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2016 (180 y)

Separation drift 32.0" → 31.8" (-0.20")

Rate -0.0011" / y

PA drift 95° → 100° (+5°, +0.028°/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.