When is the best time to observe Psi Piscium?

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

Where is Psi Piscium located in the sky?

Psi Piscium lies in the constellation Pisces at right ascension 01h 06m and declination +21° 28′.

What telescope do I need to split Psi Piscium?

Splitting Psi Piscium requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 29.8″ at magnitudes near 5.3. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Psi Piscium — Double Star in Pisces

HIP 5131; Psi1 Piscium; 74 Piscium

Observable Double Star Excellent (70/100)

Sep: 29.8", Companion: mag 5.5

Magnitude 5.3^m DoubleStar Pisces (Psc) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.34

Range 5.33 - 5.34

Period 6.5 hours

Variable Type SXARI:

Spectral Type A1Vn

Star Color White (B-V -0.03)

Distance 204 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 05m 40.9s

Dec +21° 28' 24.0"

Constellation Pisces (Psc)

HR 310

HIP 5131

HD 6456

SAO 74482

Bayer Psi1

Flamsteed 74 Psc

Double Cat 899

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.3 mag Companion 5.5 mag Separation 29.8″

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)

5Light Curve

6Multiple Star System Triple C: optical

Components 3 (triple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 29.8″

Companion Mag 5.5

Companion Sp A0V

Position Angle 159°

Star Colors A: White B: Blue-white

Discoverer STF 88

Notes

CPM with HR 311. Third component optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1755 → 2021 (266 y)

Separation drift 30.4" → 29.8" (-0.60")

Rate -0.0023" / y

PA drift 156° → 159° (+3°, +0.011°/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.