When is the best time to observe HIP 42394?

HIP 42394 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 42394 located in the sky?

HIP 42394 lies in the constellation Pyxis at right ascension 08h 39m and declination -19° 44′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 42394?

Splitting HIP 42394 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.4″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 42394 — Double Star in Pyxis

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Pyxis (Pyx) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.33

Spectral Type K5III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.59)

Distance 652 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 38m 40.3s

Dec -19° 44' 13.0"

Constellation Pyxis (Pyx)

HR 3425

HIP 42394

HD 73603

SAO 154492

Double Cat 6903

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 9.2 mag Separation 4.4″

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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

Separation 4.4″

Companion Mag 9.2

Position Angle 102°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer BU 207

Separation over time

Measured 1876 → 2003 (127 y)

Separation drift 4.3" → 4.4" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0008" / y

PA drift 104° → 102° (-2°, -0.016°/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.