When is the best time to observe HIP 86537?

HIP 86537 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 86537 located in the sky?

HIP 86537 lies in the constellation Hercules at right ascension 17h 41m and declination +24° 31′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 86537?

Splitting HIP 86537 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 16.3″ at magnitudes near 6.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 86537 — Double Star in Hercules

Magnitude 6.4^m DoubleStar Hercules (Her) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.36

Spectral Type K1III+F4V giant

Star Color Red (B-V 1.20)

Distance 1,631 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 41m 05.5s

Dec +24° 30' 48.0"

Constellation Hercules (Her)

HR 6592

HIP 86537

HD 160835

SAO 85310

Double Cat 10715

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.4 mag Companion 9.3 mag Separation 16.3″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Medium+	Medium
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 May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 16.3″

Companion Mag 9.3

Companion Sp F0V

Position Angle 8°

Star Colors A: Red B: Yellow-white

Discoverer STF2194

Notes

Component B, F4V CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1783 → 2024 (241 y)

Separation drift 14.3" → 16.3" (+2.00")

Rate +0.0083" / y

PA drift 354° → 8° (+14°, +0.058°/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.