When is the best time to observe HIP 40474?

HIP 40474 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 40474 located in the sky?

HIP 40474 lies in the constellation Ursa Major at right ascension 08h 16m and declination +60° 23′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 40474?

Splitting HIP 40474 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 48.9″ 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 40474 — Double Star in Ursa Major

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Ursa Major (UMa) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.45

Spectral Type A7Vm

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.20)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 15m 50.5s

Dec +60° 22' 50.0"

Constellation Ursa Major (UMa)

HR 3221

HIP 40474

HD 68457

SAO 14479

Double Cat 6680

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 10.4 mag Separation 48.9″

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

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 Quadruple D: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 48.9″

Companion Mag 10.4

Position Angle 224°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white C: Orange

Discoverer STF1192

Separation over time

Measured 1832 → 2015 (183 y)

Separation drift 48.6" → 48.9" (+0.30")

Rate +0.0016" / y

PA drift 223° → 224° (+1°, +0.005°/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.