When is the best time to observe HIP 86871?

HIP 86871 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 86871 located in the sky?

HIP 86871 lies in the constellation Pavo at right ascension 17h 45m and declination -57° 33′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 86871?

Splitting HIP 86871 requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 32.2″ at magnitudes near 6.0. The companion is about 6.0 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

HIP 86871 — Double Star in Pavo

Magnitude 6.0^m DoubleStar Pavo (Pav) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.01

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.90)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 44m 55.8s

Dec -57° 32' 43.0"

Constellation Pavo (Pav)

HR 6586

HIP 86871

HD 160720

SAO 244989

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 12.0 mag Separation 32.2″

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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.	Medium	Hard+	Hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Medium+	Medium	Hard+

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 B: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AP

Separation 32.2″

Companion Mag 12.0

Position Angle 252°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer HDO 277

Separation over time

Measured 1891 → 1999 (108 y)

Separation drift 30.0" → 32.2" (+2.20")

Rate +0.0204" / y

PA drift 265° → 252° (-13°, -0.120°/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.