When is the best time to observe HIP 7874?

HIP 7874 is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 7874 located in the sky?

HIP 7874 lies in the constellation Pisces at right ascension 01h 41m and declination +25° 45′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 7874?

Splitting HIP 7874 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 10.3″ at magnitudes near 6.2. The companion is about 4.7 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 7874 — Double Star in Pisces

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Pisces (Psc) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.17

Spectral Type F2III giant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.44)

Distance 142 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 41m 18.4s

Dec +25° 44' 45.0"

Constellation Pisces (Psc)

HR 484

HIP 7874

HD 10308

SAO 74870

Double Cat 1326

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 10.9 mag Separation 10.3″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard+	Hard+	Hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Medium+	Medium+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 10.3″

Companion Mag 10.9

Companion Sp F2III

Position Angle 31°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Red

Discoverer STF 145

Notes

AB CPM; B is F2III; C optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1828 → 2015 (187 y)

Separation drift 6.0" → 10.3" (+4.30")

Rate +0.0230" / y

PA drift 33° → 31° (-2°, -0.011°/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.