When is the best time to observe HIP 59984?

HIP 59984 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 59984 located in the sky?

HIP 59984 lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 12h 18m and declination -03° 57′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 59984?

Splitting HIP 59984 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 20.0″ at magnitudes near 6.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 59984 — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.54

Spectral Type F2V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.33)

Distance 204 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 18m 09.6s

Dec -03° 56' 55.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4678

HIP 59984

HD 106976

SAO 138704

Double Cat 8505

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 20.0″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 20.0″

Companion Mag 6.9

Companion Sp F3V

Position Angle 195°

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

Discoverer STF1627

Notes

Binary with HR 4677.

Separation over time

Measured 1822 → 2022 (200 y)

Separation drift 20.4" → 20.0" (-0.40")

Rate -0.0020" / y

PA drift 195° → 195° (+0°, +0.000°/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.