When is the best time to observe HIP 56280?

HIP 56280 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 56280 located in the sky?

HIP 56280 lies in the constellation Hydra at right ascension 11h 32m and declination -29° 16′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 56280?

Splitting HIP 56280 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 9.6″ at magnitudes near 5.6. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 56280 — Double Star in Hydra

Observable Double Star Excellent (67/100)

Sep: 9.6", Companion: mag 5.7

Magnitude 5.6^m DoubleStar Hydra (Hya) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.64

Spectral Type F8V

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.53)

Distance 251 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 11h 32m 16.3s

Dec -29° 15' 40.0"

Constellation Hydra (Hya)

HR 4444

HIP 56280

HD 100286

SAO 179967

Double Cat 8202

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.6 mag Companion 5.7 mag Separation 9.6″

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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 Feb – Apr (peak: Mar)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 9.6″

Companion Mag 5.7

Companion Sp F8V

Position Angle 210°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Yellow

Discoverer H 3 96

Notes

CPM with HR 4443. Combined colors. Combined mag. 5.00V.

Separation over time

Measured 1783 → 2016 (233 y)

Separation drift 9.8" → 9.6" (-0.20")

Rate -0.0009" / y

PA drift 206° → 210° (+4°, +0.017°/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.