When is the best time to observe HIP 61738?

HIP 61738 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 61738 located in the sky?

HIP 61738 lies in the constellation Musca at right ascension 12h 39m and declination -75° 22′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 61738?

Splitting HIP 61738 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.0″ at magnitudes near 6.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 61738 — Double Star in Musca

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Musca (Mus) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.49

Spectral Type B8Vne

Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.08)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 39m 14.5s

Dec -75° 22' 10.0"

Constellation Musca (Mus)

HR 4804

HIP 61738

HD 109857

SAO 256967

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 9.1 mag Separation 2.0″

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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	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+

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 2.0″

Companion Mag 9.1

Companion Sp A2V

Position Angle 271°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: White

Discoverer I 296

Notes

CPM? Combined mag., colors.

Separation over time

Measured 1898 → 2024 (126 y)

Separation drift 1.9" → 2.0" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0008" / y

PA drift 270° → 271° (+1°, +0.008°/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.