When is the best time to observe HIP 82951?

HIP 82951 is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 82951 located in the sky?

HIP 82951 lies in the constellation Ophiuchus at right ascension 16h 57m and declination -19° 32′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 82951?

Splitting HIP 82951 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.4″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 82951 — Double Star in Ophiuchus

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.27

Spectral Type B6V+B7V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.07)

Distance 408 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 57m 04.0s

Dec -19° 32' 24.0"

Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)

HR 6294

HIP 82951

HD 152909

SAO 160180

Double Cat 10266

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 7.6 mag Separation 4.4″

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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 4.4″

Companion Mag 7.6

Companion Sp B7V

Position Angle 233°

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

Discoverer SHJ 240

Separation over time

Measured 1833 → 2019 (186 y)

Separation drift 5.8" → 4.4" (-1.40")

Rate -0.0075" / y

PA drift 231° → 233° (+2°, +0.011°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

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.