When is the best time to observe HIP 51490?

HIP 51490 is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 51490 located in the sky?

HIP 51490 lies in the constellation Sextans at right ascension 10h 31m and declination -07° 38′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 51490?

Splitting HIP 51490 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.8″ at magnitudes near 6.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 51490 — Double Star in Sextans

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Sextans (Sex) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.20

Spectral Type K5III+F6V giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.38)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 10h 30m 58.7s

Dec -07° 38' 15.0"

Constellation Sextans (Sex)

HR 4122

HIP 51490

HD 91106

SAO 137614

Double Cat 7808

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 8.8 mag Separation 2.8″

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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 Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 2.8″

Companion Mag 8.8

Companion Sp F6V

Position Angle 167°

Star Colors A: Red B: Yellow

Discoverer STF1441

Notes

AB CPM. B is F6V. C, 9.5v at 64" optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1830 → 2021 (191 y)

Separation drift 2.6" → 2.8" (+0.20")

Rate +0.0010" / y

PA drift 169° → 167° (-2°, -0.010°/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.