When is the best time to observe HIP 39617?

HIP 39617 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 39617 located in the sky?

HIP 39617 lies in the constellation Puppis at right ascension 08h 06m and declination -33° 34′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 39617?

Splitting HIP 39617 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 21.9″ at magnitudes near 6.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 39617 — Double Star in Puppis

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Puppis (Pup) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.14

Spectral Type G1Ib supergiant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.11)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 05m 44.9s

Dec -33° 34' 09.0"

Constellation Puppis (Pup)

HR 3177

HIP 39617

HD 67243

SAO 198791

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 8.4 mag Separation 21.9″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Medium+
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 Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 21.9″

Companion Mag 8.4

Position Angle 88°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 4046

Notes

Component B, 8.66V, -0.09(B-V), -0.52(U-B), B9IV.

Separation over time

Measured 1837 → 1999 (162 y)

Separation drift 20.0" → 21.9" (+1.90")

Rate +0.0117" / y

PA drift 85° → 88° (+3°, +0.019°/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.