Blue-white giant · Scorpius

Alniyat

Also known as: σ Scorpii (σ Sco), HIP 80112

mag 2.9700 light-years

About

Alniyat (σ Scorpii) is a blue-white giant of magnitude 2.9 in Scorpius, about 700 light-years away.

Alniyat is in the constellation Scorpius.
Best evenings: around mid-July 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 54° 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	Alniyat
Designation	σ Scorpii (σ Sco)
Hipparcos number	HIP 80112
Type	Blue-white giant
Spectral type	B1III
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.30
Magnitude	2.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	700 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1330.
Proper motion	0.021″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Scorpius
Right ascension (J2000)	16h 21m 11.3s
Declination (J2000)	−25° 35′ 34″