When is the best time to observe HIP 80953?

HIP 80953 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 80953 located in the sky?

HIP 80953 lies in the constellation Hercules at right ascension 16h 32m and declination +45° 36′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 80953?

Splitting HIP 80953 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 16.3″ at magnitudes near 5.7. The companion is about 3.0 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 80953 — Double Star in Hercules

Observable Double Star Good (56/100)

Sep: 16.3", Companion: mag 8.7

Magnitude 5.7^m DoubleStar Hercules (Her) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.65

Spectral Type A4Vn

Star Color White (B-V 0.12)

Distance 148 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 31m 47.3s

Dec +45° 35' 54.0"

Constellation Hercules (Her)

HR 6162

HIP 80953

HD 149303

SAO 46147

Double Cat 10105

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.7 mag Companion 8.7 mag Separation 16.3″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Medium+
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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 16.3″

Companion Mag 8.7

Position Angle 195°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow

Discoverer STF2063

Separation over time

Measured 1782 → 2020 (238 y)

Separation drift 16.9" → 16.3" (-0.60")

Rate -0.0025" / y

PA drift 198° → 195° (-3°, -0.013°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.