When is the best time to observe HIP 60870?

HIP 60870 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 60870 located in the sky?

HIP 60870 lies in the constellation Crux at right ascension 12h 29m and declination -56° 24′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 60870?

Splitting HIP 60870 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 47.5″ at magnitudes near 6.2. The companion is about 5.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 60870 — Double Star in Crux

DoubleStar Crux (Cru) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.15

Spectral Type K0-1III

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.92)

Distance 155 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 28m 33.4s

Dec -56° 24' 28.0"

Constellation Crux (Cru)

HR 4749

HIP 60870

HD 108570

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 11.9 mag Separation 47.5″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard	V. hard+	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium	Hard+	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Medium+	Medium	Hard+

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 Triple B: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AC

Separation 47.5″

Companion Mag 11.9

Position Angle 336°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HDO 217

Separation over time

Measured 1892 → 2018 (126 y)

Separation drift 49.2" → 47.5" (-1.70")

Rate -0.0135" / y

PA drift 288° → 336° (+48°, +0.381°/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.