When is the best time to observe Meleph?

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

Where is Meleph located in the sky?

Meleph lies in the constellation Cancer at right ascension 08h 40m and declination +19° 33′.

What telescope do I need to split Meleph?

Splitting Meleph requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 134.0″ at magnitudes near 6.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Meleph — Double Star in Cancer

Epsilon Cnc

Magnitude 6.3^m DoubleStar Cancer (Cnc) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.30

Spectral Type A8Vn

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.17)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 40m 27.0s

Dec +19° 32' 42.0"

Constellation Cancer (Cnc)

HR 3429

HIP 42556

HD 73731

SAO 98024

Bayer Epsilon

Flamsteed 41 Cnc

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.3 mag Companion 7.5 mag Separation 134.0″

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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 Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 134.0″

Companion Mag 7.5

Position Angle 250°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Yellow

Discoverer S 574

Separation over time

Measured 1825 → 2015 (190 y)

Separation drift 132.8" → 134.0" (+1.20")

Rate +0.0063" / y

PA drift 249° → 250° (+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.