π Herculis (pi Herculis)

π Herculis is a variable bright giant star in the constellation of Hercules.

π Herculis visual magnitude is 3.16. Because of its moderate brightness, π Herculis 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 Herculis:

Color of π Herculis ⬤

Magnitude of π Herculis 3.16

Class Bright giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW π Herculis (pi Herculis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 9°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of π Herculis

π Herculis 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 Herculis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 17h 15m 02s

Declination J2000 +36° 48’ 33”

Galactic Longitude 60.66°

Galactic Latitude 34.34°

Constellation Hercules

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

Finder chart π Herculis (pi Herculis) star

Simplified finder chart for π Herculis (pi Herculis).

Visibility of π Herculis from your location

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

Today's π Herculis (pi Herculis) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 53.2° RISE 14:53

Max altitude: 75.3° TRANSIT 1:34

Azimuth: 306.8° SET 12:10

RIGHT NOW π Herculis (pi Herculis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of π Herculis

The image below is a photograph of π Herculis 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 Herculis is -0.026 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.004 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of π Herculis. The red arrow shows the motion of π Herculis during the next 10000 years (-4.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and 0.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of π Herculis from the Sun and relative movement

π Herculis is distant 366.70 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 26 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 112.49 pc

Distance (light year) 366.70 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -26 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.026 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.004 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of π Herculis

π Herculis belongs to spectral class K3 and has a luminosity class of II corresponding to a bright giant star.

Absolute magnitude -2.10

Spectral Type K3II

Color Index (B-V) 1.44

Temperature of π Herculis 3886K

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

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

Alternative designations of π Herculis

Bayer designation π Herculis
(pi Herculis)

Flamsteed designation 67 Herculis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD156283

SAO Catalogue SAO65890

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP84380

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+36 2844

FK5 Catalogue 643

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 8431

In Evidence

Other stars in Hercules