When is the best time to observe HIP 85788?

HIP 85788 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 85788 located in the sky?

HIP 85788 lies in the constellation Ara at right ascension 17h 32m and declination -46° 02′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 85788?

Splitting HIP 85788 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 20.5″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 4.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 85788 — Double Star in Ara

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Ara Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.03

Spectral Type F8-G0Ib

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.83) (reddened by dust)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 31m 49.1s

Dec -46° 02' 11.0"

Constellation Ara

HR 6513

HIP 85788

HD 158476

SAO 228075

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 10.5 mag Separation 20.5″

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

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 20.5″

Companion Mag 10.5

Position Angle 210°

Star Colors A: Yellow (reddened by dust)

Discoverer I 40

Separation over time

Measured 1895 → 2016 (121 y)

Separation drift 6.0" → 20.5" (+14.50")

Rate +0.1198" / y

PA drift 225° → 210° (-15°, -0.124°/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.