When is the best time to observe HIP 85049?

HIP 85049 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 85049 located in the sky?

HIP 85049 lies in the constellation Ara at right ascension 17h 23m and declination -58° 01′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 85049?

Splitting HIP 85049 requires an aperture of roughly 230 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.8″ at magnitudes near 5.9. The companion is about 3.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 85049 — Double Star in Ara

Magnitude 5.9^m DoubleStar Ara Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.88

Spectral Type G8Ib-II supergiant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.07)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 22m 55.0s

Dec -58° 00' 37.0"

Constellation Ara

HR 6438

HIP 85049

HD 156768

SAO 244678

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.9 mag Companion 9.4 mag Separation 1.8″

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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 May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System C: optical

Separation 1.8″

Companion Mag 9.4

Position Angle 184°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HDO 270

Separation over time

Measured 1891 → 2016 (125 y)

Separation drift 4.0" → 1.8" (-2.20")

Rate -0.0176" / y

PA drift 190° → 184° (-6°, -0.048°/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.