Lupus: The Wolf
LOOP-us
Lupus as depicted by Johannes Hevelius in his Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
| Lupus Constellation Profile | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Lup | Genitive: Lupi | Origin: Ancient |
| Location: Southern Hemisphere | Size/Area: 334 sq. deg. | Size Rank: 46 |
| On Meridian: 9pm June 20th | Best View (North): Spring | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Libra, Hydra, Centaurus, Circinus, Norma, Scorpius | ||
The Myth Behind the Constellation Lupus
Lupus, “The Wolf”, was called Therion by the ancient Greeks. It was an unspecified wild animal. Centaurus, the centaur has it impaled on a spear, ready to sacrifice the beast on the altar, Ara. The Babylonians new this constellation as a wolf.
Lupus Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.
Bright Stars in Lupus
These are the stars in Lupus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Lupi | Alpha Lupi | 2.30 | Blue-White | 7,832 suns | 548 ly |
| Beta Lupi | Beta Lupi | 2.68 | Blue-White | 6,895 suns | 523 ly |
| Gamma Lupi | Gamma Lupi | 2.80 | Blue-White | 5,000 suns | 420 ly |