π Centauri (pi Centauri)

π Centauri is a double main-sequence star in the constellation of Centaurus.

π Centauri visual magnitude is 3.89. Because of its moderate brightness, π Centauri 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 Centauri:

Color of π Centauri ⬤

Magnitude of π Centauri 3.89

Class Main-sequence

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW π Centauri (pi Centauri) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of π Centauri

π Centauri is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern emisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of π Centauri are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 11h 21m 00s

Declination J2000 -54° 29’ 27”

Galactic Longitude 289.96°

Galactic Latitude 6.09°

Constellation Centaurus

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

Finder chart π Centauri (pi Centauri) star

Simplified finder chart for π Centauri (pi Centauri).

Visibility of π Centauri from your location

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

π Centauri (pi Centauri) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]

Digitized Sky Survey image of π Centauri

The image below is a photograph of π Centauri 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 Centauri is -0.036 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.006 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of π Centauri. The red arrow shows the motion of π Centauri during the next 10000 years (-6.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of π Centauri from the Sun and relative movement

π Centauri is distant 321.18 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 9 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 98.52 pc

Distance (light year) 321.18 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 9 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.036 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.006 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of π Centauri

π Centauri belongs to spectral class B5 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.

Absolute magnitude -1.08

Spectral Type B5V

Color Index (B-V) -0.15

Temperature of π Centauri 12489K

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

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

π Centauri star system properties

π Centauri is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the π Centauri double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 3.89

Secondary star magnitude 4.59

Magnitude difference 0.7

Separation 0.2 arcsec

Alternative designations of π Centauri

Bayer designation π Centauri
(pi Centauri)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD98718

SAO Catalogue SAO238986

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP55425

Durchmusterung Catalogue CP-53 4498

FK5 Catalogue 428

How to support us

In Evidence

Other stars in Centaurus