When is the best time to observe HIP 73184?

HIP 73184 is best observed from March through May, with peak visibility during April when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 73184 located in the sky?

HIP 73184 lies in the constellation Libra at right ascension 14h 57m and declination -21° 25′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 73184?

Splitting HIP 73184 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 26.2″ at magnitudes near 5.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 73184 — Double Star in Libra

Observable Double Star Excellent (63/100)

Sep: 26.2", Companion: mag 8.2

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Libra (Lib) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.74

Spectral Type K4V

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.11)

Distance 19 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 14h 57m 28.0s

Dec -21° 24' 56.0"

Constellation Libra (Lib)

HR 5568

HIP 73184

HD 131977

SAO 183040

Double Cat 9446

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 8.2 mag Separation 26.2″

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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

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Best season Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Multiple Star System Sextuple C,D,E,F: optical

Components 6 (sextuple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 26.2″

Companion Mag 8.2

Companion Sp M2V

Position Angle 307°

Star Colors A: Orange B: Red

Discoverer H N 28

Notes

AB 5.79 K4V, 7.93 M2V, q = 20.388" hyperbolic orbit. Component B is dM2.

Separation over time

Measured 1806 → 2020 (214 y)

Separation drift 9.4" → 26.2" (+16.80")

Rate +0.0785" / y

PA drift 251° → 307° (+56°, +0.262°/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.