When is the best time to observe HIP 4049?

HIP 4049 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 4049 located in the sky?

HIP 4049 lies in the constellation Phoenix at right ascension 00h 52m and declination -43° 43′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 4049?

Splitting HIP 4049 requires an aperture of roughly 370 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 0.6″ at magnitudes near 6.9. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 4049 — Double Star in Phoenix

Magnitude 6.9^m DoubleStar Phoenix (Phe) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.90

Spectral Type F2V+F5V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.35)

Distance 466 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 51m 52.1s

Dec -43° 42' 33.0"

Constellation Phoenix (Phe)

HR 245

HIP 4049

HD 5042

SAO 215270

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.9 mag Companion 8.0 mag Separation 0.6″

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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.	V. hard+	V. hard+	V. hard+
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	V. hard+	V. hard+	V. hard+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 370 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 0.6″

Companion Mag 8.0

Companion Sp F5V

Position Angle 31°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer I 47

Notes

Optical. Combined mag. and color.

Separation over time

Measured 1895 → 2019 (124 y)

Separation drift 1.0" → 0.60" (-0.40")

Rate -0.0032" / y

PA drift 0° → 31° (+31°, +0.250°/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.