When is the best time to observe Sham?

Sham is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Sham located in the sky?

Sham lies in the constellation Sagitta at right ascension 19h 40m and declination +18° 01′.

What telescope do I need to split Sham?

Splitting Sham requires an aperture of roughly 60 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 82.6″ at magnitudes near 4.4. The companion is about 6.6 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Sham — Double Star in Sagitta

HIP 96757; Alpha Sagittae; 5 Sagittae

DoubleStar Sagitta (Sge) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.37

Spectral Type G1II

Star Color Orange (B-V 0.78)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 19h 40m 05.8s

Dec +18° 00' 50.0"

Constellation Sagitta (Sge)

HR 7479

HIP 96757

HD 185758

Bayer Alpha

Flamsteed 5 Sge

Double Cat 12766

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.4 mag Companion 11.0 mag Separation 82.6″

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Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Hard+	Hard	V. hard+
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	Easy	Medium+	Medium+

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Jun – Aug (peak: Jul)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AD

Separation 82.6″

Companion Mag 11.0

Position Angle 148°

Star Colors A: Orange

Discoverer WAL 118

Notes

Companions B and C optical.

Separation over time

Measured 1897 → 2013 (116 y)

Separation drift 85.8" → 82.6" (-3.20")

Rate -0.0276" / y

PA drift 149° → 148° (-1°, -0.009°/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.