When is the best time to observe NV Puppis?

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

Where is NV Puppis located in the sky?

NV Puppis lies in the constellation Puppis at right ascension 07h 18m and declination -36° 44′.

What telescope do I need to split NV Puppis?

Splitting NV Puppis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 241.6″ at magnitudes near 4.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

NV Puppis — Double Star in Puppis

Observable Double Star Good (54/100)

Sep: 241.6", Companion: mag 5.1

Magnitude 4.6–4.8^m DoubleStar Puppis (Pup) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.66

Range 4.58 - 4.78

Variable Type Gamma Cassiopeiae (Eruptive Be Star)

Spectral Type B2V+B3IVne

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.10)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 07h 18m 18.4s

Dec -36° 44' 03.0"

Constellation Puppis (Pup)

HR 2787

HIP 35363

HD 57150

SAO 197824

Variable ID NV Pup

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.7 mag Companion 5.1 mag Separation 241.6″

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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 Quadruple

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 241.6″

Companion Mag 5.1

Companion Sp B3IV

Position Angle 102°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Blue

Discoverer JC 10

Separation over time

Measured 1846 → 2011 (165 y)

Separation drift 238.7" → 241.6" (+2.90")

Rate +0.0176" / y

PA drift 97° → 102° (+5°, +0.030°/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.