When is the best time to observe Pi Gruis?

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

Where is Pi Gruis located in the sky?

Pi Gruis lies in the constellation Grus at right ascension 22h 23m and declination -45° 56′.

What telescope do I need to split Pi Gruis?

Splitting Pi Gruis requires an aperture of roughly 200 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 5.2″ at magnitudes near 5.6. The companion is about 5.8 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Pi Gruis — Double Star in Grus

HIP 110506; Pi Gruis

Magnitude 5.6^m DoubleStar Grus (Gru) Visible

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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.62

Spectral Type F3III-IV giant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.36)

Distance 121 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 22h 23m 08.0s

Dec -45° 55' 43.0"

Constellation Grus (Gru)

HR 8524

HIP 110506

HD 212132

SAO 231111

Bayer Pi

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 5.6 mag Companion 11.4 mag Separation 5.2″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

To reach "Medium" at Bortle 3, you'd need at least a 200 mm reflector.

4Visibility

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Best season Jul – Sep (peak: Aug)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 5.2″

Companion Mag 11.4

Position Angle 223°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white

Discoverer I 382

Notes

CPM.

Separation over time

Measured 1901 → 2016 (115 y)

Separation drift 4.6" → 5.2" (+0.60")

Rate +0.0052" / y

PA drift 207° → 223° (+16°, +0.139°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

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.