When is the best time to observe HIP 26781?

HIP 26781 is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 26781 located in the sky?

HIP 26781 lies in the constellation Auriga at right ascension 05h 41m and declination +29° 29′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 26781?

Splitting HIP 26781 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 25.8″ at magnitudes near 6.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 26781 — Double Star in Auriga

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Auriga (Aur) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.43

Spectral Type B8IV subgiant

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.11)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 41m 21.0s

Dec +29° 29' 15.0"

Constellation Auriga (Aur)

HR 1945

HIP 26781

HD 37646

SAO 77393

Double Cat 4262

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 7.1 mag Separation 25.8″

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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 Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 25.8″

Companion Mag 7.1

Position Angle 15°

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

Discoverer STF 764

Notes

CPM, B is 7.18V, -0.04(B-V), -0.14(U-B), B9.5V, vsini 120k/s.

Separation over time

Measured 1797 → 2019 (222 y)

Separation drift 30.7" → 25.8" (-4.90")

Rate -0.0221" / y

PA drift 20° → 15° (-5°, -0.023°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

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.