When is the best time to observe HIP 68270?

HIP 68270 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 68270 located in the sky?

HIP 68270 lies in the constellation Circinus at right ascension 13h 59m and declination -65° 48′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 68270?

Splitting HIP 68270 requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 6.5″ at magnitudes near 6.2. 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 68270 — Double Star in Circinus

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Circinus (Cir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.20

Spectral Type K0III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.05)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 13h 58m 31.2s

Dec -65° 48' 02.0"

Constellation Circinus (Cir)

HR 5242

HIP 68270

HD 121557

SAO 252534

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 9.5 mag Separation 6.5″

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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 Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System C: optical

Separation 6.5″

Companion Mag 9.5

Position Angle 15°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HJ 4632

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2015 (180 y)

Separation drift 6.0" → 6.5" (+0.50")

Rate +0.0028" / y

PA drift 9° → 15° (+6°, +0.033°/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.