[11][12] Parallax measurements provide a distance estimate of approximately 1,435 ± 98 light-years from the Sun.

[1] An independent estimate based on measurements of an ejected shell surrounding the star yield a distance of 1,180 ± 140 light-years.

[13] Although the General Catalogue of Variable Stars lists its maximum brightness as magnitude 9.1,[14] far too faint to be seen with the naked eye, both AAVSO and ASAS data shows that R Sculptoris is occasionally brighter than 6th magnitude, and faintly visible to the naked eye under excellent observing conditions.

It is a semi-regular pulsating star of the SRb[4] type that is nearing the end of its fusing lifespan.

The star is shedding its outer atmosphere, and it is surrounded by a thin shell of dust and gas that was created during the most recent thermal pulse around 2,000 years ago.