When is the best time to observe HIP 72438?

HIP 72438 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 72438 located in the sky?

HIP 72438 lies in the constellation Circinus at right ascension 14h 49m and declination -66° 36′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 72438?

Splitting HIP 72438 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 47.2″ at magnitudes near 5.9. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 72438 — Double Star in Circinus

Observable Double Star Good (52/100)

Sep: 47.2", Companion: mag 8.6

Magnitude 5.9^m DoubleStar Circinus (Cir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.91

Spectral Type B2.5Ve

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.07)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 14h 48m 44.4s

Dec -66° 35' 38.0"

Constellation Circinus (Cir)

HR 5500

HIP 72438

HD 129954

SAO 252894

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.9 mag Companion 8.6 mag Separation 47.2″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	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 Triple D: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 47.2″

Companion Mag 8.6

Companion Sp B7

Position Angle 33°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Blue-white

Discoverer I 369

Separation over time

Measured 1942 → 2016 (74 y)

Separation drift 46.4" → 47.2" (+0.80")

Rate +0.0108" / y

PA drift 35° → 33° (-2°, -0.027°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

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.