When is the best time to observe HIP 74432?

HIP 74432 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 74432 located in the sky?

HIP 74432 lies in the constellation Serpens at right ascension 15h 13m and declination +19° 17′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 74432?

Splitting HIP 74432 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 23.2″ at magnitudes near 6.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 74432 — Double Star in Serpens

Magnitude 6.7^m DoubleStar Serpens (Ser) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.68

Spectral Type G5V

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.68)

Distance 136 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 15h 12m 43.5s

Dec +19° 17' 09.0"

Constellation Serpens (Ser)

HR 5659

HIP 74432

HD 135101

SAO 101437

Double Cat 9535

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.7 mag Companion 7.4 mag Separation 23.2″

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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 Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 23.2″

Companion Mag 7.4

Companion Sp G5V

Position Angle 11°

Star Colors A: Orange B: Orange

Discoverer STF1919

Notes

Binary. Companion 7.53V, +0.35(R-I), dG6.

Separation over time

Measured 1796 → 2020 (224 y)

Separation drift 25.0" → 23.2" (-1.80")

Rate -0.0080" / y

PA drift 12° → 11° (-1°, -0.004°/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.