When is the best time to observe HIP 79980?

HIP 79980 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 79980 located in the sky?

HIP 79980 lies in the constellation Scorpius at right ascension 16h 20m and declination -30° 54′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 79980?

Splitting HIP 79980 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 23.6″ at magnitudes near 5.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 79980 — Double Star in Scorpius

Observable Double Star Excellent (61/100)

Sep: 23.6", Companion: mag 6.9

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Scorpius (Sco) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.49

Spectral Type F6III giant

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.47)

Distance 109 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 19m 32.7s

Dec -30° 54' 24.0"

Constellation Scorpius (Sco)

HR 6077

HIP 79980

HD 146836

SAO 207558

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 23.6″

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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 23.6″

Companion Mag 6.9

Companion Sp F9V

Position Angle 318°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Yellow

Discoverer BSO 12

Notes

Companion, F9V, CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1837 → 2018 (181 y)

Separation drift 27.5" → 23.6" (-3.90")

Rate -0.0215" / y

PA drift 324° → 318° (-6°, -0.033°/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.