When is the best time to observe HIP 71500?

HIP 71500 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 71500 located in the sky?

HIP 71500 lies in the constellation Lupus at right ascension 14h 37m and declination -46° 08′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 71500?

Splitting HIP 71500 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 19.2″ at magnitudes near 5.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 71500 — Double Star in Lupus

Observable Double Star Excellent (72/100)

Sep: 19.2", Companion: mag 7.7

Magnitude 5.4^m DoubleStar Lupus (Lup) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.41

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.01)

Distance 142 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 14h 37m 20.1s

Dec -46° 08' 02.0"

Constellation Lupus (Lup)

HR 5450

HIP 71500

HD 128266

SAO 225062

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.4 mag Companion 7.7 mag Separation 19.2″

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 19.2″

Companion Mag 7.7

Companion Sp A1V

Position Angle 24°

Star Colors A: Orange B: White

Discoverer HJ 4690

Notes

AB combined mag., colors. C, 9.2A1V at 19" = CoD -45d9303, CPM?

Separation over time

Measured 1834 → 2020 (186 y)

Separation drift 25.0" → 19.2" (-5.80")

Rate -0.0312" / y

PA drift 24° → 24° (+0°, +0.000°/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.