When is the best time to observe Marsic?

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

Where is Marsic located in the sky?

Marsic lies in the constellation Hercules at right ascension 16h 08m and declination +17° 03′.

What telescope do I need to split Marsic?

Splitting Marsic requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 27.1″ at magnitudes near 5.0. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Marsic — Double Star in Hercules

Kappa Her (BS6008)

Observable Double Star Excellent (64/100)

Sep: 27.1", Companion: mag 6.2

Magnitude 5.0^m DoubleStar Hercules (Her) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.00

Range 5.00 - 5.02

Variable Type ROT:

Spectral Type G8III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.95)

Distance 590 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 08m 04.5s

Dec +17° 02' 49.0"

Constellation Hercules (Her)

HR 6008

HIP 79043

HD 145001

SAO 101951

Bayer Kappa

Flamsteed 7 Her

Double Cat 9933

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.0 mag Companion 6.2 mag Separation 27.1″

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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 Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System Triple B: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 27.1″

Companion Mag 6.2

Companion Sp K0IV

Position Angle 14°

Star Colors A: Orange B: Orange

Discoverer STF2010

Notes

Optical pair with HR 6009.

Separation over time

Measured 1779 → 2023 (244 y)

Separation drift 40.0" → 27.1" (-12.90")

Rate -0.0529" / y

PA drift 10° → 14° (+4°, +0.016°/y)

Apparent motion is significant on a human timescale — worth revisiting in a decade.

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.