When is the best time to observe HIP 83738?

HIP 83738 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 83738 located in the sky?

HIP 83738 lies in the constellation Ophiuchus at right ascension 17h 07m and declination -01° 39′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 83738?

Splitting HIP 83738 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 20.3″ 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 83738 — Double Star in Ophiuchus

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.38

Spectral Type A9V

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.20)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 06m 52.9s

Dec -01° 39' 23.0"

Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)

HR 6361

HIP 83738

HD 154660

SAO 141522

Double Cat 10347

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.7 mag Separation 20.3″

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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 May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 20.3″

Companion Mag 9.7

Companion Sp G5V

Position Angle 279°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer STF2122

Notes

CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1831 → 2016 (185 y)

Separation drift 20.1" → 20.3" (+0.20")

Rate +0.0011" / y

PA drift 281° → 279° (-2°, -0.011°/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.