When is the best time to observe HIP 88859?

HIP 88859 is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is HIP 88859 located in the sky?

HIP 88859 lies in the constellation Ara at right ascension 18h 09m and declination -45° 46′.

What telescope do I need to split HIP 88859?

Splitting HIP 88859 requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.3″ at magnitudes near 6.2. 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 88859 — Double Star in Ara

Magnitude 6.2^m DoubleStar Ara Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.15

Spectral Type B7-8II

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.08)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 08m 30.1s

Dec -45° 46' 02.0"

Constellation Ara

HR 6759

HIP 88859

HD 165493

SAO 228734

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.2 mag Companion 9.6 mag Separation 4.3″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard+	Hard+	Hard+
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

Separation 4.3″

Companion Mag 9.6

Position Angle 258°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow

Discoverer HJ 5015

Notes

Component B, B9V, optical?

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2016 (180 y)

Separation drift 3.0" → 4.3" (+1.30")

Rate +0.0072" / y

PA drift 263° → 258° (-5°, -0.028°/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.