When is the best time to observe Kappa Tucanae?

Kappa Tucanae is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Kappa Tucanae located in the sky?

Kappa Tucanae lies in the constellation Tucana at right ascension 01h 16m and declination -68° 53′.

What telescope do I need to split Kappa Tucanae?

Splitting Kappa Tucanae requires an aperture of roughly 100 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 4.6″ at magnitudes near 4.9. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Kappa Tucanae — Double Star in Tucana

Observable Double Star Good (58/100)

Sep: 4.6", Companion: mag 7.5

Magnitude 4.9^m DoubleStar Tucana (Tuc) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.86

Spectral Type F6IV subgiant

Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.47)

Distance 53 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 15m 46.1s

Dec -68° 52' 34.0"

Constellation Tucana (Tuc)

HR 377

HIP 5896

HD 7788

SAO 248346

Bayer Kappa

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.9 mag Companion 7.5 mag Separation 4.6″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	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 Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 4.6″

Companion Mag 7.5

Companion Sp G5V

Position Angle 315°

Star Colors A: Yellow B: Orange

Discoverer HJ 3423

Notes

Quadruple system consisting of two close CPM pairs separated by 320": CPD -69d45, components AB, 5.1, 7.3, 5" and | CPD -69d44, components CD. AB, 1222.4y, a = 7.64"; CD 7.8 G5, 8.2, 86.2y, a = 1.12".

Separation over time

Measured 1834 → 2017 (183 y)

Separation drift 2.0" → 4.6" (+2.60")

Rate +0.0142" / y

PA drift 12° → 315° (-57°, -0.311°/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.