Star profile

Pi Geminorum

Cool red star

3D likeness based on its real data · class M · ~3,200 K

What is Pi Geminorum

Pi Geminorum is a cool red giant 662 light-years away, near the edge of the Twins' rectangle beside Pollux. Its surface does not exceed 3,500 degrees and its radius dwarfs the Sun's: were it to replace our star, its outline would draw close to the orbit of Mercury. A deep red best seen through binoculars, beside the golden yellow of its famous neighbour.

Where it is and when to see it

Pi Geminorum lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is January, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 72° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 83° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 23° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 57° S.

It ranks no. 34 in brightness among the 74 stars of Gemini in our catalogue. To find it, start from Pollux, the brightest: it lies about 5° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 660 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Pi Geminorum

Constellation: Gemini
Apparent magnitude: 5.14
Distance: 661.7 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 116.876° · Dec 33.416°
Catalogue: HIP 38016 · HD 62898

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Other stars in Gemini

Gemini has 74 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 74 stars in Gemini