When is the best time to observe HIP 3576?

HIP 3576 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 3576 located in the sky?

HIP 3576 lies in the constellation Cetus at right ascension 00h 46m and declination -16° 25′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 3576?

Splitting HIP 3576 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.9″ at magnitudes near 6.5. The companion is about 3.9 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 3576 — Double Star in Cetus

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Cetus (Cet) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.47

Spectral Type F1IVn supergiant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.31)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 45m 41.7s

Dec -16° 25' 27.0"

Constellation Cetus (Cet)

HR 206

HIP 3576

HD 4338

SAO 147436

Double Cat 636

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 10.4 mag Separation 2.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	V. hard+	V. hard+	V. hard+
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Hard+	Hard+	Hard+
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 Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 2.9″

Companion Mag 10.4

Position Angle 197°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer MLF 1

Separation over time

Measured 1887 → 2016 (129 y)

Separation drift 2.5" → 2.9" (+0.40")

Rate +0.0031" / y

PA drift 193° → 197° (+4°, +0.031°/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.