When is the best time to observe HIP 62743?

HIP 62743 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 62743 located in the sky?

HIP 62743 lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 12h 51m and declination -10° 20′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 62743?

Splitting HIP 62743 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 29.6″ at magnitudes near 6.4. The companion is about 3.3 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 62743 — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.41

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.02)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 51m 22.9s

Dec -10° 20' 18.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 4877

HIP 62743

HD 111720

SAO 157550

Double Cat 8684

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.7 mag Separation 29.6″

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

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Best season Feb – Apr (peak: Mar)

5Multiple Star System Triple optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 29.6″

Companion Mag 9.7

Position Angle 299°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer STF1682

Notes

B, optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1831 → 2018 (187 y)

Separation drift 33.7" → 29.6" (-4.10")

Rate -0.0219" / y

PA drift 309° → 299° (-10°, -0.053°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

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.