When is the best time to observe HIP 58697?

HIP 58697 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 58697 located in the sky?

HIP 58697 lies in the constellation Octans at right ascension 12h 02m and declination -85° 38′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 58697?

Splitting HIP 58697 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 25.0″ at magnitudes near 6.0. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 58697 — Double Star in Octans

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Octans (Oct) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.05

Spectral Type K3III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.29)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 02m 20.1s

Dec -85° 37' 54.0"

Constellation Octans (Oct)

HR 4595

HIP 58697

HD 104555

SAO 258632

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 9.0 mag Separation 25.0″

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

Separation 25.0″

Companion Mag 9.0

Companion Sp F8

Position Angle 146°

Star Colors A: Red B: Yellow

Discoverer HJ 4490

Separation over time

Measured 1837 → 2023 (186 y)

Separation drift 25.0" → 25.0" (+0.00")

Rate +0.0000" / y

PA drift 147° → 146° (-1°, -0.005°/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.