When is the best time to observe HIP 56620?

HIP 56620 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 56620 located in the sky?

HIP 56620 lies in the constellation Hydra at right ascension 11h 37m and declination -33° 34′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 56620?

Splitting HIP 56620 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.4″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 56620 — Double Star in Hydra

Observable Double Star Good (56/100)

Sep: 3.4", Companion: mag 7.8

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Hydra (Hya) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.74

Spectral Type K0III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.02)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 11h 36m 35.0s

Dec -33° 34' 12.0"

Constellation Hydra (Hya)

HR 4469

HIP 56620

HD 100893

SAO 202622

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 7.8 mag Separation 3.4″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+
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 Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 3.4″

Companion Mag 7.8

Position Angle 240°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 4455

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2016 (181 y)

Separation drift 2.5" → 3.4" (+0.90")

Rate +0.0050" / y

PA drift 248° → 240° (-8°, -0.044°/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.