When is the best time to observe HIP 40429?

HIP 40429 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 40429 located in the sky?

HIP 40429 lies in the constellation Carina at right ascension 08h 15m and declination -62° 55′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 40429?

Splitting HIP 40429 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.1″ at magnitudes near 5.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 40429 — Double Star in Carina

Observable Double Star Good (57/100)

Sep: 4.1", Companion: mag 7.6

Magnitude 5.2^m DoubleStar Carina (Car) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.16

Spectral Type A2V

Star Color White (B-V 0.09)

Distance 105 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 15m 15.9s

Dec -62° 54' 57.0"

Constellation Carina (Car)

HR 3260

HIP 40429

HD 69863

SAO 250164

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.2 mag Companion 7.6 mag Separation 4.1″

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	Medium+	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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 4.1″

Companion Mag 7.6

Position Angle 70°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow

Discoverer RMK 8

Notes

CPM, A2IV, F2V.

Separation over time

Measured 1851 → 2016 (165 y)

Separation drift 3.7" → 4.1" (+0.40")

Rate +0.0024" / y

PA drift 57° → 70° (+13°, +0.079°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.