When is the best time to observe HIP 65479?

HIP 65479 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 65479 located in the sky?

HIP 65479 lies in the constellation Centaurus at right ascension 13h 25m and declination -64° 29′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 65479?

Splitting HIP 65479 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 22.0″ at magnitudes near 5.3. The companion is about 5.6 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 65479 — Double Star in Centaurus

Magnitude 5.3^m DoubleStar Centaurus (Cen) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.31

Spectral Type F2III giant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.40)

Distance 408 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 25m 13.9s

Dec -64° 29' 07.0"

Constellation Centaurus (Cen)

HR 5048

HIP 65479

HD 116457

SAO 252304

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.3 mag Companion 10.9 mag Separation 22.0″

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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	Easy	Medium+	Medium+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System B: optical

Separation 22.0″

Companion Mag 10.9

Companion Sp M3

Position Angle 172°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Red

Discoverer HJ 4583

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2015 (180 y)

Separation drift 40.0" → 22.0" (-18.00")

Rate -0.1000" / y

PA drift 232° → 172° (-60°, -0.333°/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.