π Aurigae (pi Aurigae)

π Aurigae is a variable bright giant star in the constellation of Auriga.

π Aurigae visual magnitude is 4.26. Because of its moderate brightness, π Aurigae should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about π Aurigae:

Color of π Aurigae ⬤

Magnitude of π Aurigae 4.26

Class Bright giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW π Aurigae (pi Aurigae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 27°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of π Aurigae

π Aurigae is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of π Aurigae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 05h 59m 56s

Declination J2000 +45° 56’ 12”

Galactic Longitude 166.6°

Galactic Latitude 10.94°

Constellation Auriga

The simplified sky map below shows the position of π Aurigae in the sky:

Finder chart π Aurigae (pi Aurigae) star

Simplified finder chart for π Aurigae (pi Aurigae).

Visibility of π Aurigae from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

π Aurigae (pi Aurigae) is circumpolar and transits at 13:24 UTC (altitude: 84.5°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of π Aurigae

The image below is a photograph of π Aurigae from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of π Aurigae is 0 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.005 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of π Aurigae. The red arrow shows the motion of π Aurigae during the next 100000 years (0.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -8.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of π Aurigae from the Sun and relative movement

π Aurigae is distant 840.21 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 1 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 257.73 pc

Distance (light year) 840.21 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 1 km/s

Proper Motion Dec -0.005 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of π Aurigae

π Aurigae belongs to spectral class M3 and has a luminosity class of II corresponding to a bright giant star.

Absolute magnitude -2.80

Spectral Type M3II

Color Index (B-V) 1.72

Temperature of π Aurigae 3490K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where π Aurigae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of π Aurigae. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alternative designations of π Aurigae

Bayer designation π Aurigae
(pi Aurigae)

Flamsteed designation 35 Aurigae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD40239

SAO Catalogue SAO40756

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP28404

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+45 1217

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Pi Aur

In Evidence

Other stars in Auriga