When is the best time to observe HIP 4212?

HIP 4212 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 4212 located in the sky?

HIP 4212 lies in the constellation Cassiopeia at right ascension 00h 54m and declination +52° 41′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 4212?

Splitting HIP 4212 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 8.3″ at magnitudes near 6.3. The companion is about 3.2 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 4212 — Double Star in Cassiopeia

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Cassiopeia (Cas) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.27

Spectral Type A5m

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.19)

Distance 251 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 53m 47.6s

Dec +52° 41' 21.0"

Constellation Cassiopeia (Cas)

HR 250

HIP 4212

HD 5128

SAO 21814

Double Cat 735

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 9.5 mag Separation 8.3″

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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 Quadruple C: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 8.3″

Companion Mag 9.5

Position Angle 247°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow

Discoverer STF 70

Notes

AB CPM. Component B, dG4.

Separation over time

Measured 1831 → 2016 (185 y)

Separation drift 9.0" → 8.3" (-0.70")

Rate -0.0038" / y

PA drift 243° → 247° (+4°, +0.022°/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.