When is the best time to observe Pi Lupi?

Pi Lupi is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Pi Lupi located in the sky?

Pi Lupi lies in the constellation Lupus at right ascension 15h 05m and declination -47° 03′.

What telescope do I need to split Pi Lupi?

Splitting Pi Lupi requires an aperture of roughly 150 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 1.6″ at magnitudes near 4.7. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Pi Lupi — Double Star in Lupus

HIP 73807; Pi Lupi

Observable Double Star Fair (32/100)

Sep: 1.6", Companion: mag 4.6

Magnitude 4.7^m DoubleStar Lupus (Lup) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.72

Spectral Type B5V

Star Color Blue (B-V -0.14)

Distance 362 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 15h 05m 07.2s

Dec -47° 03' 04.0"

Constellation Lupus (Lup)

HR 5605

HIP 73807

HD 133243

Bayer Pi

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 4.7 mag Companion 4.6 mag Separation 1.6″

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

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 1.6″

Companion Mag 4.6

Position Angle 64°

Star Colors A: Blue B: Blue-white

Discoverer HJ 4728

Notes

Binary with HR 5606. Colors for combined light. Blended mag. 3.88V. vsini for combined light.

Separation over time

Measured 1835 → 2019 (184 y)

Separation drift 0.80" → 1.6" (+0.80")

Rate +0.0043" / y

PA drift 113° → 64° (-49°, -0.266°/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.