When is the best time to observe HIP 45344?

HIP 45344 is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 45344 located in the sky?

HIP 45344 lies in the constellation Vela at right ascension 09h 14m and declination -43° 14′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 45344?

Splitting HIP 45344 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.9″ at magnitudes near 5.2. The companion is about 3.9 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 45344 — Double Star in Vela

Magnitude 5.2^m DoubleStar Vela (Vel) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.25

Spectral Type B4V

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.14)

Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 09h 14m 24.5s

Dec -43° 13' 39.0"

Constellation Vela (Vel)

HR 3674

HIP 45344

HD 79735

SAO 220978

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.3 mag Companion 9.2 mag Separation 5.9″

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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 Jan – Mar (peak: Feb)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.9″

Companion Mag 9.2

Position Angle 13°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Yellow

Discoverer HJ 4191

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2015 (180 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 5.9" (+1.90")

Rate +0.0106" / y

PA drift 8° → 13° (+5°, +0.028°/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.