When is the best time to observe HIP 59654?

HIP 59654 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 59654 located in the sky?

HIP 59654 lies in the constellation Centaurus at right ascension 12h 14m and declination -45° 43′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 59654?

Splitting HIP 59654 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.7″ at magnitudes near 5.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 59654 — Double Star in Centaurus

Observable Double Star Good (59/100)

Sep: 2.7", Companion: mag 7.0

Magnitude 5.3^m DoubleStar Centaurus (Cen) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.31

Spectral Type K3III giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.43)

Distance 466 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 14m 02.6s

Dec -45° 43' 26.0"

Constellation Centaurus (Cen)

HR 4652

HIP 59654

HD 106321

SAO 223297

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.3 mag Companion 7.0 mag Separation 2.7″

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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

Separation 2.7″

Companion Mag 7.0

Position Angle 242°

Star Colors A: Red

Discoverer RMK 14

Notes

Binary. Combined mag., colors.

Separation over time

Measured 1837 → 2016 (179 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 2.7" (-1.30")

Rate -0.0073" / y

PA drift 247° → 242° (-5°, -0.028°/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.