When is the best time to observe HIP 30566?

HIP 30566 is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 30566 located in the sky?

HIP 30566 lies in the constellation Columba at right ascension 06h 25m and declination -35° 04′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 30566?

Splitting HIP 30566 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 134.4″ at magnitudes near 6.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 30566 — Double Star in Columba

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Columba (Col) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.25

Spectral Type K3III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.36)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 25m 29.9s

Dec -35° 03' 50.0"

Constellation Columba (Col)

HR 2329

HIP 30566

HD 45383

SAO 196805

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 7.6 mag Separation 134.4″

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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 134.4″

Companion Mag 7.6

Position Angle 48°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer HJ 3858

Separation over time

Measured 1846 → 2011 (165 y)

Separation drift 127.2" → 134.4" (+7.20")

Rate +0.0436" / y

PA drift 49° → 48° (-1°, -0.006°/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.