When is the best time to observe HIP 59307?

HIP 59307 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 59307 located in the sky?

HIP 59307 lies in the constellation Hydra at right ascension 12h 10m and declination -34° 42′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 59307?

Splitting HIP 59307 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.8″ at magnitudes near 6.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 59307 — Double Star in Hydra

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Hydra (Hya) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.17

Spectral Type A0V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.03)

Distance 544 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 10m 02.5s

Dec -34° 42' 18.0"

Constellation Hydra (Hya)

HR 4628

HIP 59307

HD 105686

SAO 203183

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 8.0 mag Separation 3.8″

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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 C: optical

Separation 3.8″

Companion Mag 8.0

Position Angle 17°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer JC 17

Separation over time

Measured 1848 → 2015 (167 y)

Separation drift 3.2" → 3.8" (+0.60")

Rate +0.0036" / y

PA drift 22° → 17° (-5°, -0.030°/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.