When is the best time to observe HIP 41616?

HIP 41616 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 41616 located in the sky?

HIP 41616 lies in the constellation Vela at right ascension 08h 29m and declination -47° 56′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 41616?

Splitting HIP 41616 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.5″ at magnitudes near 5.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 41616 — Double Star in Vela

Observable Double Star Good (59/100)

Sep: 3.5", Companion: mag 7.2

Magnitude 5.3^m DoubleStar Vela (Vel) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.33

Spectral Type B2IV subgiant

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.14)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 29m 04.7s

Dec -47° 55' 45.0"

Constellation Vela (Vel)

HR 3358

HIP 41616

HD 72108

SAO 219985

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.3 mag Companion 7.2 mag Separation 3.5″

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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 Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AP

Separation 3.5″

Companion Mag 7.2

Position Angle 244°

Star Colors A: Blue-white

Discoverer HJ 4104

Notes

AP, 6.4, 6.4v, sep. 0.176", combined mag., color. Components B, 7.7v at 4" binary with AP, C, 9.3v at 19".

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2008 (173 y)

Separation drift 2.3" → 3.5" (+1.20")

Rate +0.0069" / y

PA drift 238° → 244° (+6°, +0.035°/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.