What it looks like
Lupus is a mid-sized southern constellation, drawn as a wolf or beast impaled on the Centaur's spear. The ancient Greeks did not treat it as a distinct figure — it was simply 'the beast' held by Centaurus, and only in Renaissance star charts did it acquire the form of a wolf.
Brightest stars
Lupus has several stars around magnitude 2 to 3, with Men as its brightest.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men (α Lupi) | +2.30 | 460 ly | — |
| Kekouan (β Lupi) | +2.68 | 524 ly | — |
| Gamma Lupi | +2.77 | 420 ly | — |
| Delta Lupi | +3.22 | 510 ly | — |
| Epsilon Lupi | +3.37 | 510 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Lupus has no strong mythology of its own; in Greek times it was simply 'the beast' held by the centaur, and only later became a wolf.
The beast of the Centaur
Classical Greek astronomers did not treat this region as a wolf at all. They called it Therion, 'the beast', and considered it an offering held by Centaurus on the tip of his spear, about to be sacrificed to the gods. The Latin name Lupus — wolf — appears in Roman times, possibly following a mistranslation or reinterpretation of the earlier Greek figure. Whatever animal it is, the constellation still lies beside Centaurus in the sky, in the rich star fields of the Milky Way.
How to find it
Look between bright Alpha and Beta Centauri and the curved tail of Scorpius on southern autumn evenings.
- Find Alpha Centauri, then look east for Lupus.
- The constellation sits in a rich Milky Way field good for binocular sweeping.
- Best from the southern hemisphere on autumn and winter evenings.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Lup
- Genitive
- Lupi
- Meaning
- The Wolf
- Brightest star
- Men
- Main stars
- 9
- Area rank
- 46th
- Best visible
- June
- Declination
- -45°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Libra, Scorpius, Norma, Circinus, Centaurus, Hydra
Deep-sky objects
Lupus contains NGC 5822 and NGC 5986, a bright open cluster and a globular cluster, plus several faint planetary nebulae. The constellation lies close to the Milky Way's centre and is well populated with faint star fields.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Lupus look like?
Lupus is a southern constellation known as the Wolf, sitting between Scorpius and Centaurus in a rich region of the Milky Way.
What is the brightest star in Lupus?
The brightest star in Lupus is Men, shining at around magnitude 2.30.
When is Lupus best visible?
Lupus is best seen from southern hemisphere during June.
What is the story behind Lupus?
Lupus has no strong mythology of its own; in Greek times it was simply 'the beast' held by the centaur, and only later became a wolf.
Which constellations are near Lupus?
Lupus borders Libra, Scorpius, Norma, Circinus, Centaurus and Hydra.
Centaurus
Scorpius