When is the best time to observe HIP 60197?

HIP 60197 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 60197 located in the sky?

HIP 60197 lies in the constellation Coma Berenices at right ascension 12h 21m and declination +27° 03′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 60197?

Splitting HIP 60197 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 8.8″ at magnitudes near 7.1. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 60197 — Double Star in Coma Berenices

Magnitude 7.1^m DoubleStar Coma Berenices (Com) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 7.13

Spectral Type F3V+F3V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.36)

Distance 408 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 20m 41.3s

Dec +27° 03' 17.0"

Constellation Coma Berenices (Com)

HR 4698

HIP 60197

HD 107398

SAO 82253

Double Cat 8519

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 7.1 mag Companion 7.1 mag Separation 8.8″

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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 8.8″

Companion Mag 7.1

Companion Sp F3V

Position Angle 245°

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

Discoverer STF1633

Notes

Companion also dF2.

Separation over time

Measured 1820 → 2023 (203 y)

Separation drift 8.0" → 8.8" (+0.80")

Rate +0.0039" / y

PA drift 242° → 245° (+3°, +0.015°/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.