In 1987, the infrared source IRAS 15194-5115 was identified as an extreme carbon star. It was seen to be strongly variable at optical and infrared wavelengths. It is very faint visually, 15th or 16th magnitude in a red filter and below 21st magnitude in a blue filter, but at mid-infrared wavelengths (N band) it is the third-brightest carbon star in the sky.[8] A star at the location had earlier been catalogued as WOS 48, a possible S-type star, on the basis of strong LaO bands in its spectrum.[9]
On the basis of infrared photometry,[10] IRAS 15194-5115 was given the variable star designation II Lupi in 1995, although the variability type was still unknown.[11] More detailed infrared photometry confirmed that II Lupi was a Mira variable and showed regular variations with a period of 575 days over 18 years. The mean magnitude also dimmed and brightened during that time and has been characterised as a 6,900-day secondary period although less than a full cycle was observed. The secondary period could be interpreted as an isolated or irregular obscuration event in a dust shell surrounding the star.[12]
II Lupi has a strong stellar wind averaging 10−5solar masses per year.[13]
^De Beck, E.; Decin, L.; De Koter, A.; Justtanont, K.; Verhoelst, T.; Kemper, F.; Menten, K. M. (2010). "Probing the mass-loss history of AGB and red supergiant stars from CO rotational line profiles. II. CO line survey of evolved stars: Derivation of mass-loss rate formulae". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 523: A18. arXiv:1008.1083. Bibcode:2010A&A...523A..18D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913771. S2CID16131273.
^DENIS Consortium (2003). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: The DENIS database (DENIS Consortium, 2003)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog. Bibcode:2003yCat....102002T.
^Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Westerlund, B. E; Olander, N (1978). "S stars in the southern Milky Way". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 32: 401. Bibcode:1978A&AS...32..401W.
^Le Bertre, T (1992). "Carbon-star lightcurves in the 1-20 micron range". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 94: 377. Bibcode:1992A&AS...94..377L.
^Kazarovets, E. V; Samus, N. N (1995). "The 72nd Name-List of Variable Stars". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 4140: 1. Bibcode:1995IBVS.4140....1K.