Yellow-white bright giant · Sagittarius

Albaldah

Also known as: π Sagittarii (π Sgr), HIP 94141

mag 2.9510 light-years

About

Albaldah (π Sagittarii) is a yellow-white bright giant of magnitude 2.9 in Sagittarius, about 510 light-years away.

Albaldah is in the constellation Sagittarius.
Best evenings: around late August it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 59° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesEasy, even from town.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Albaldah
Designation	π Sagittarii (π Sgr)
Hipparcos number	HIP 94141
Type	Yellow-white bright giant
Spectral type	F2II/III
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.38
Magnitude	2.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	510 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1520.
Proper motion	0.037″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Sagittarius
Right ascension (J2000)	19h 09m 45.8s
Declination (J2000)	−21° 01′ 25″