When is the best time to observe HIP 46914?

HIP 46914 is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 46914 located in the sky?

HIP 46914 lies in the constellation Vela at right ascension 09h 34m and declination -49° 00′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 46914?

Splitting HIP 46914 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.0″ at magnitudes near 5.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 46914 — Double Star in Vela

Observable Double Star Good (54/100)

Sep: 2.0", Companion: mag 6.2

Magnitude 5.1^m DoubleStar Vela (Vel) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.12

Spectral Type B4IV subgiant

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.12)

Distance 217 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 09h 33m 44.5s

Dec -49° 00' 18.0"

Constellation Vela (Vel)

HR 3817

HIP 46914

HD 82984

SAO 221288

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.1 mag Companion 6.2 mag Separation 2.0″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	Hard	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+
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 2.0″

Companion Mag 6.2

Position Angle 220°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: White

Discoverer HJ 4220

Notes

Secondary B8V, vsini 157k/s.

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2008 (172 y)

Separation drift 3.0" → 2.0" (-1.00")

Rate -0.0058" / y

PA drift 202° → 220° (+18°, +0.105°/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.