[4] Based upon parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of roughly 780 light-years (240 parsecs) from Earth.

This energy is being radiated from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 27,094 K,[9] giving it the blue-hued glow of a B-type star.

[11] The nature of the secondary is unknown; some analyses have suggested it is an A- or F-type main-sequence star,[7] but the possibility of a white dwarf has not been ruled out.

[15] It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type[2] variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +4.45 to +4.71; a range of 0.28.

[18] Consequently, the Chinese name for π Aquarii itself is 墳墓四 (Fén Mù sì, English: the Fourth Star of Tomb.