Lupus constellation
Lupus is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is α Lupi. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.
- Summerbest seen
- α Lupibrightest star, magnitude 2.3
- LupLupus
How to find the constellation Lupus
Use its brightest star as a guide: α Lupi (magnitude 2.3). In June around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | not visible — too far south in the sky |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| α Lupi | 2.3 | blue | — |
| β Lupi | 2.7 | blue | — |
| γ Lupi | 2.8 | blue | — |
| δ Lupi | 3.2 | blue | — |
| ε Lupi | 3.4 | blue | — |
| ζ Lupi | 3.4 | orange | — |
| η Lupi | 3.4 | blue | — |
| ι Lupi | 3.5 | blue | — |
| φ¹ Lupi | 3.6 | orange | — |
| κ¹ Lupi | 3.9 | bluish white | — |
| π Lupi | 3.9 | blue | — |
| χ Lupi | 4.0 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Lupus in the sky?
Use its brightest star as a guide: α Lupi (magnitude 2.3). In June around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Lupus?
In summer: in June around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Lupus?
α Lupi: magnitude 2.3, blue.
How many stars are there in the constellation Lupus?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 74 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.