When is the best time to observe HIP 522?

HIP 522 is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 522 located in the sky?

HIP 522 lies in the constellation Phoenix at right ascension 00h 06m and declination -49° 05′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 522?

Splitting HIP 522 requires an aperture of roughly 270 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.9″ at magnitudes near 5.7. The companion is about 5.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 522 — Double Star in Phoenix

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Phoenix (Phe) Visible 3 Exoplanets

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.70

Spectral Type G1IV subgiant

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.52)

Distance 65 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 06m 19.0s

Dec -49° 04' 30.0"

Constellation Phoenix (Phe)

HR 6

HIP 522

HD 142

SAO 214963

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 11.5 mag Separation 3.9″

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Hard	Hard	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Hard	Hard	Hard

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 270 mm reflector.

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Aug – Oct (peak: Sep)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 3.9″

Companion Mag 11.5

Position Angle 186°

Star Colors A: Yellow

Discoverer HDO 180

Notes

CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1894 → 2016 (122 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 3.9" (-0.10")

Rate -0.0008" / y

PA drift 175° → 186° (+11°, +0.090°/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.

Eyepiece View

Telescope Eyepiece

80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°

Seeing

Scale Realistic = true angular size

A: 5.7 · B: 11.5 · Sep: 3.9″ · PA: 186° · N up, E right

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

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Spectral Classification

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Blackbody Spectrum

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Stellar Fusion

Exoplanets 3 known planets

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Planet	Radius	Mass	Period	Distance	Method	Year
HD 142 A d	10.90R⊕	82.6M⊕	108.5d	85ly	Radial Velocity	2022
HD 142 b	12.70R⊕	7.10M♃	351.4d	85ly	Radial Velocity	2001
HD 142 c	12.40R⊕	10.90M♃	27.8yr	85ly	Radial Velocity	2012