When is the best time to observe Iota Apodis?

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

Where is Iota Apodis located in the sky?

Iota Apodis lies in the constellation Apus at right ascension 17h 22m and declination -70° 07′.

What telescope do I need to split Iota Apodis?

Splitting Iota Apodis requires an aperture of roughly 200 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 0.1″ at magnitudes near 5.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Iota Apodis — Double Star in Apus

Magnitude 5.4^m DoubleStar Apus (Aps) Visible

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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.41

Spectral Type B9V+B9.5V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.04)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 22m 05.9s

Dec -70° 07' 24.0"

Constellation Apus (Aps)

HR 6411

HIP 84979

HD 156190

SAO 257491

Bayer Iota

SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
Naked eye Naked eye	Medium	Hard+	Hard
50 mm finder 50mm finder	Easy	Easy	Easy
150 mm telescope 150mm scope	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 0.1″

Companion Mag 6.5

Companion Sp B9.5V

Position Angle 125°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Blue-white

Discoverer FIN 373

Notes

Sep. 0.121".

Separation over time

Measured 1960 → 2021 (61 y)

Separation drift 0.10" → 0.10" (+0.00")

Rate +0.0000" / y

PA drift 119° → 125° (+6°, +0.098°/y)

Essentially fixed on human timescales — the same view your grandchildren will see.

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.