When is the best time to observe HIP 66086?

HIP 66086 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 66086 located in the sky?

HIP 66086 lies in the constellation Coma Berenices at right ascension 13h 33m and declination +24° 21′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 66086?

Splitting HIP 66086 requires an aperture of roughly 290 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.5″ at magnitudes near 6.1. The companion is about 3.6 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 66086 — Double Star in Coma Berenices

Magnitude 6.1^m DoubleStar Coma Berenices (Com) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.11

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.96)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 32m 48.1s

Dec +24° 20' 47.0"

Constellation Coma Berenices (Com)

HR 5102

HIP 66086

HD 117876

SAO 82875

Double Cat 8937

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.1 mag Companion 9.7 mag Separation 1.5″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 290 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 1.5″

Companion Mag 9.7

Position Angle 257°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer A 567

Separation over time

Measured 1903 → 2019 (116 y)

Separation drift 1.4" → 1.5" (+0.10")

Rate +0.0009" / y

PA drift 260° → 257° (-3°, -0.026°/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.