When is the best time to observe HIP 48561?

HIP 48561 is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 48561 located in the sky?

HIP 48561 lies in the constellation Vela at right ascension 09h 54m and declination -45° 17′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 48561?

Splitting HIP 48561 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.6″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 48561 — Double Star in Vela

Observable Double Star Good (58/100)

Sep: 5.6", Companion: mag 8.2

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Vela (Vel) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.71

Spectral Type B3V

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.11)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 09h 54m 17.6s

Dec -45° 17' 02.0"

Constellation Vela (Vel)

HR 3925

HIP 48561

HD 85980

SAO 221592

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 8.2 mag Separation 5.6″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 5.6″

Companion Mag 8.2

Position Angle 239°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Yellow-white

Discoverer DUN 81

Notes

Binary. Combined mag., colors.

Separation over time

Measured 1826 → 2015 (189 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 5.6" (+1.60")

Rate +0.0085" / y

PA drift 239° → 239° (+0°, +0.000°/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.