When is the best time to observe Kappa Tauri?

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

Where is Kappa Tauri located in the sky?

Kappa Tauri lies in the constellation Taurus at right ascension 04h 25m and declination +22° 18′.

What telescope do I need to split Kappa Tauri?

Splitting Kappa Tauri requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 339.4″ at magnitudes near 4.2. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Kappa Tauri — Double Star in Taurus

HIP 20635; Kappa1 Tauri; 65 Tauri

Observable Double Star Good (49/100)

Sep: 339.4", Companion: mag 5.3

Magnitude 4.2^m DoubleStar Taurus (Tau) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.22

Variable Type Delta Scuti (Pulsating)

Spectral Type A7IV-V subgiant

Star Color White (B-V 0.13)

Distance 130 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 25m 22.1s

Dec +22° 17' 38.0"

Constellation Taurus (Tau)

HR 1387

HIP 20635

HD 27934

SAO 76601

Bayer Kappa1

Flamsteed 65 Tau

Double Cat 3201

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.2 mag Companion 5.3 mag Separation 339.4″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Easy	Easy	Easy
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Multiple Star System Sextuple E: optical

Components 6 (sextuple)

Component IDs O

Separation 339.4″

Companion Mag 5.3

Position Angle 174°

Star Colors A: White

Discoverer STF 541

Notes

Kappa1 Tau is occultation double. Together with Kappa2 = HR 1388 they form a multiple system of at least | 6 components.

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2016 (180 y)

Separation drift 339.1" → 339.4" (+0.30")

Rate +0.0017" / y

PA drift 173° → 174° (+1°, +0.006°/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.