When is the best time to observe HIP 7963?

HIP 7963 is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 7963 located in the sky?

HIP 7963 lies in the constellation Cassiopeia at right ascension 01h 42m and declination +58° 38′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 7963?

Splitting HIP 7963 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 19.5″ at magnitudes near 6.4. The companion is about 3.4 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 7963 — Double Star in Cassiopeia

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Cassiopeia (Cas) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.37

Spectral Type B8III giant

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.02)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 42m 17.8s

Dec +58° 37' 40.0"

Constellation Cassiopeia (Cas)

HR 482

HIP 7963

HD 10293

SAO 22520

Double Cat 1334

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.8 mag Separation 19.5″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	Medium	Medium
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Medium+
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 Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 19.5″

Companion Mag 9.8

Companion Sp Am

Position Angle 168°

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

Discoverer HJ 1088

Notes

Third component mag. diff 4.74v, 110" from A. Component B is K2V, optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1828 → 2015 (187 y)

Separation drift 15.0" → 19.5" (+4.50")

Rate +0.0241" / y

PA drift 165° → 168° (+3°, +0.016°/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.