When is the best time to observe Omega Fornacis?

Omega Fornacis is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Omega Fornacis located in the sky?

Omega Fornacis lies in the constellation Fornax at right ascension 02h 34m and declination -28° 14′.

What telescope do I need to split Omega Fornacis?

Splitting Omega Fornacis requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 11.0″ at magnitudes near 4.9. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Omega Fornacis — Double Star in Fornax

Observable Double Star Excellent (64/100)

Sep: 11.0", Companion: mag 7.7

Magnitude 4.9^m DoubleStar Fornax (For) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.90

Spectral Type B9.5V

Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.05)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 02h 33m 50.7s

Dec -28° 13' 57.0"

Constellation Fornax (For)

HR 749

HIP 11918

HD 16046

SAO 167882

Bayer Omega

Double Cat 1954

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.9 mag Companion 7.7 mag Separation 11.0″

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 11.0″

Companion Mag 7.7

Position Angle 246°

Star Colors A: Blue-white B: Yellow-white

Discoverer HJ 3506

Notes

Companion 7.83V, +0.20(B-V), +0.15(U-B), A7V or A3Vm; vsini 167k/s. Probably optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1836 → 2013 (177 y)

Separation drift 11.2" → 11.0" (-0.20")

Rate -0.0011" / y

PA drift 242° → 246° (+4°, +0.023°/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.