When is the best time to observe HIP 42936?

HIP 42936 is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 42936 located in the sky?

HIP 42936 lies in the constellation Carina at right ascension 08h 45m and declination -58° 44′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 42936?

Splitting HIP 42936 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.2″ at magnitudes near 6.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 42936 — Double Star in Carina

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Carina (Car) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.21

Spectral Type B7III giant

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.09)

Distance 544 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 45m 05.3s

Dec -58° 43' 30.0"

Constellation Carina (Car)

HR 3489

HIP 42936

HD 75086

SAO 236241

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 4.2″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple C: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 4.2″

Companion Mag 6.9

Position Angle 292°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Blue-white

Discoverer RMK 9

Notes

Components B8III and B7IV. Component B, RV +24k/s.

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2010 (174 y)

Separation drift 3.5" → 4.2" (+0.70")

Rate +0.0040" / y

PA drift 288° → 292° (+4°, +0.023°/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.