When is the best time to observe HIP 31457?

HIP 31457 is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 31457 located in the sky?

HIP 31457 lies in the constellation Columba at right ascension 06h 35m and declination -36° 47′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 31457?

Splitting HIP 31457 requires an aperture of roughly 150 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.6″ at magnitudes near 5.6. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 31457 — Double Star in Columba

Observable Double Star Fair (26/100)

Sep: 1.6", Companion: mag 6.9

Magnitude 5.6^m DoubleStar Columba (Col) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.59

Spectral Type A0V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.14)

Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 35m 24.1s

Dec -36° 46' 48.0"

Constellation Columba (Col)

HR 2424

HIP 31457

HD 47144

SAO 196978

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.6 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 1.6″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	Hard	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium	Medium	Medium
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+

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 Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 1.6″

Companion Mag 6.9

Position Angle 259°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: White

Discoverer BU 755

Notes

AB binary. C, 11.5v at 21".

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2022 (143 y)

Separation drift 1.0" → 1.6" (+0.60")

Rate +0.0042" / y

PA drift 250° → 259° (+9°, +0.063°/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.