When is the best time to observe HIP 4104?

HIP 4104 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 4104 located in the sky?

HIP 4104 lies in the constellation Cetus at right ascension 00h 53m and declination -24° 00′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 4104?

Splitting HIP 4104 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 10.9″ at magnitudes near 5.5. The companion is about 4.2 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 4104 — Double Star in Cetus

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Cetus (Cet) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.46

Spectral Type K2III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.24)

Distance 466 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 52m 40.6s

Dec -24° 00' 21.0"

Constellation Cetus (Cet)

HR 247

HIP 4104

HD 5098

SAO 166647

Double Cat 726

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 9.6 mag Separation 10.9″

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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

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Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 10.9″

Companion Mag 9.6

Position Angle 346°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer BU 734

Notes

Fixed sep.

Separation over time

Measured 1876 → 2016 (140 y)

Separation drift 11.2" → 10.9" (-0.30")

Rate -0.0021" / y

PA drift 350° → 346° (-4°, -0.029°/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.