When is the best time to observe Lambda Normae?

Lambda Normae is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Lambda Normae located in the sky?

Lambda Normae lies in the constellation Norma at right ascension 16h 19m and declination -42° 40′.

What telescope do I need to split Lambda Normae?

Splitting Lambda Normae requires an aperture of roughly 650 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 0.3″ at magnitudes near 5.5. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Lambda Normae — Double Star in Norma

Magnitude 5.5^m DoubleStar Norma (Nor) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.45

Spectral Type A3Vn

Star Color White (B-V 0.10)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 19m 17.7s

Dec -42° 40' 26.0"

Constellation Norma (Nor)

HR 6071

HIP 79963

HD 146667

SAO 226650

Bayer Lambda

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.5 mag Companion 6.9 mag Separation 0.3″

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	V. hard	V. hard	V. hard

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 650 mm reflector.

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 0.3″

Companion Mag 6.9

Position Angle 119°

Star Colors A: White B: Yellow-white

Discoverer SEE 271

Notes

A4, A7.

Separation over time

Period: 67.5 y Eccentricity: 0.788 Now: 0.34", PA 131° -0.03" in 5 years

Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.

Eyepiece View

Telescope Eyepiece

80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°

Seeing

Scale Realistic = true angular size

A: 5.5 · B: 6.9 · Sep: 0.3″ · PA: 119° · N up, E right

Unresolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

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Spectral Classification

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Stellar Lifecycle

Blackbody Spectrum

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

Stellar Fusion

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

Open Cluster mag 5.8 2.3° Scorpius

V918 Sco

Hard+

Hot blue O-type star

Double Star mag 5.47 3.1° Scorpius

V856 Sco

Medium

Variable star, range 7.0–7.7

Variable Star mag 7.05 4.1° Scorpius

NGC 6139

Easy

Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars

Globular Cluster mag 9.2 4.1° Scorpius

Epsilon Nor

Easy

Easy double, sep 22.9″

Double Star mag 4.47 5.1° Norma

Eta Lup

Easy

Colorful double, sep 14.8″

Double Star mag 3.41 5.6° Lupus

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