When is the best time to observe HIP 23161?

HIP 23161 is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 23161 located in the sky?

HIP 23161 lies in the constellation Orion at right ascension 04h 59m and declination +14° 33′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 23161?

Splitting HIP 23161 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 39.3″ at magnitudes near 6.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 23161 — Double Star in Orion

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Orion (Ori) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.09

Spectral Type B7V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.04)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 58m 59.4s

Dec +14° 32' 34.0"

Constellation Orion (Ori)

HR 1600

HIP 23161

HD 31764

SAO 94240

Double Cat 3579

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 7.4 mag Separation 39.3″

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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

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Best season Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple D: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 39.3″

Companion Mag 7.4

Position Angle 306°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer SHJ 49

Notes

AB probably optical. B, 8.0v B9; C, 9.8v at 54"; D, by Wallenquist, mag. diff 7.1 at 90".

Separation over time

Measured 1777 → 2020 (243 y)

Separation drift 42.0" → 39.3" (-2.70")

Rate -0.0111" / y

PA drift 303° → 306° (+3°, +0.012°/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.