When is the best time to observe Phi Piscium?

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

Where is Phi Piscium located in the sky?

Phi Piscium lies in the constellation Pisces at right ascension 01h 14m and declination +24° 35′.

What telescope do I need to split Phi Piscium?

Splitting Phi Piscium requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 7.5″ at magnitudes near 4.7. The companion is about 4.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Phi Piscium — Double Star in Pisces

Magnitude 4.7^m DoubleStar Pisces (Psc) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.65

Spectral Type K0III giant

Star Color Orange (B-V 1.04)

Distance 466 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 13m 44.9s

Dec +24° 35' 01.0"

Constellation Pisces (Psc)

HR 360

HIP 5742

HD 7318

SAO 74571

Bayer Phi

Flamsteed 85 Psc

Double Cat 995

SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.7 mag Companion 9.1 mag Separation 7.5″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium	Medium	Medium
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 Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

5Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 7.5″

Companion Mag 9.1

Position Angle 227°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer STF 99

Notes

B CPM, 9.11V, +0.92(B-V), +0.25(U-B).

Separation over time

Measured 1832 → 2020 (188 y)

Separation drift 8.0" → 7.5" (-0.50")

Rate -0.0027" / y

PA drift 226° → 227° (+1°, +0.005°/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.