When is the best time to observe HIP 59801?

HIP 59801 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 59801 located in the sky?

HIP 59801 lies in the constellation Corvus at right ascension 12h 16m and declination -23° 21′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 59801?

Splitting HIP 59801 requires an aperture of roughly 150 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.9″ at magnitudes near 6.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 59801 — Double Star in Corvus

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Corvus (Crv) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.54

Spectral Type F3V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.45)

Distance 204 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 15m 47.0s

Dec -23° 21' 13.0"

Constellation Corvus (Crv)

HR 4661

HIP 59801

HD 106612

SAO 180619

Double Cat 8481

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 8.2 mag Separation 1.9″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	Hard	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+
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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Feb – Apr (peak: Mar)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 1.9″

Companion Mag 8.2

Position Angle 307°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow

Discoverer BU 920

Notes

6.8 F5, 7.9.

Separation over time

Measured 1879 → 2020 (141 y)

Separation drift 0.80" → 1.9" (+1.10")

Rate +0.0078" / y

PA drift 52° → 307° (-105°, -0.745°/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.