When is the best time to observe HIP 73716?

HIP 73716 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 73716 located in the sky?

HIP 73716 lies in the constellation Virgo at right ascension 15h 04m and declination +05° 30′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 73716?

Splitting HIP 73716 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 10.1″ at magnitudes near 6.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 73716 — Double Star in Virgo

Magnitude 6.5^m DoubleStar Virgo (Vir) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.50

Spectral Type F0V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.31)

Distance 192 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 15h 04m 06.4s

Dec +05° 29' 33.0"

Constellation Virgo (Vir)

HR 5610

HIP 73716

HD 133408

SAO 120821

Double Cat 9493

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.5 mag Companion 7.4 mag Separation 10.1″

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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 Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 10.1″

Companion Mag 7.4

Companion Sp F0V

Position Angle 348°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer STF1904

Separation over time

Measured 1823 → 2018 (195 y)

Separation drift 10.7" → 10.1" (-0.60")

Rate -0.0031" / y

PA drift 347° → 348° (+1°, +0.005°/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.