When is the best time to observe HIP 81854?

HIP 81854 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 81854 located in the sky?

HIP 81854 lies in the constellation Ursa Minor at right ascension 16h 43m and declination +77° 31′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 81854?

Splitting HIP 81854 requires an aperture of roughly 230 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.4″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 4.2 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 81854 — Double Star in Ursa Minor

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Ursa Minor (UMi) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.98

Spectral Type F4V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.42)

Distance 109 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 43m 06.0s

Dec +77° 30' 51.0"

Constellation Ursa Minor (UMi)

HR 6267

HIP 81854

HD 152303

SAO 8612

Double Cat 10214

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 10.2 mag Separation 2.4″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 230 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 2.4″

Companion Mag 10.2

Position Angle 175°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer KU 1

Notes

AB, CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1889 → 2016 (127 y)

Separation drift 2.7" → 2.4" (-0.30")

Rate -0.0024" / y

PA drift 188° → 175° (-13°, -0.102°/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.