When is the best time to observe Kappa Leporis?

Kappa Leporis is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Kappa Leporis located in the sky?

Kappa Leporis lies in the constellation Lepus at right ascension 05h 13m and declination -12° 56′.

What telescope do I need to split Kappa Leporis?

Splitting Kappa Leporis requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 2.0″ at magnitudes near 4.4. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Kappa Leporis — Double Star in Lepus

Observable Double Star Good (53/100)

Sep: 2.0", Companion: mag 6.8

Magnitude 4.4^m DoubleStar Lepus (Lep) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.36

Spectral Type B9V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.10)

Distance 96 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 13m 13.9s

Dec -12° 56' 29.0"

Constellation Lepus (Lep)

HR 1705

HIP 24327

HD 33949

SAO 150239

Bayer Kappa

Flamsteed 4 Lep

Double Cat 3800

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.4 mag Companion 6.8 mag Separation 2.0″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 2.0″

Companion Mag 6.8

Position Angle 358°

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

Discoverer STF 661

Notes

CPM. Combined mag., colors. Companion B9V, optical?

Separation over time

Measured 1832 → 2021 (189 y)

Separation drift 3.1" → 2.0" (-1.10")

Rate -0.0058" / y

PA drift 359° → 358° (-1°, -0.005°/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.