When is the best time to observe HIP 63143?

HIP 63143 is best observed from February through April, with peak visibility during March when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 63143 located in the sky?

HIP 63143 lies in the constellation Ursa Major at right ascension 12h 56m and declination +54° 06′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 63143?

Splitting HIP 63143 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 3.7″ at magnitudes near 5.8. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 63143 — Double Star in Ursa Major

Observable Double Star Excellent (60/100)

Sep: 3.7", Companion: mag 7.8

Magnitude 5.8^m DoubleStar Ursa Major (UMa) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.82

Spectral Type A5m

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.19)

Distance 272 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 56m 17.6s

Dec +54° 05' 58.0"

Constellation Ursa Major (UMa)

HR 4917

HIP 63143

HD 112486

SAO 28572

Double Cat 8710

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.8 mag Companion 7.8 mag Separation 3.7″

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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	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 Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 3.7″

Companion Mag 7.8

Position Angle 280°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow

Discoverer STF1695

Notes

AB binary? C, 10.4v at 124" optical?

Separation over time

Measured 1823 → 2023 (200 y)

Separation drift 4.1" → 3.7" (-0.40")

Rate -0.0020" / y

PA drift 285° → 280° (-5°, -0.025°/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.