Yellow-white subgiant · Scorpius

Graffias

Also known as: ξ Scorpii (ξ Sco)

mag 4.879 light-years

About

Graffias (ξ Scorpii) is a yellow-white subgiant of magnitude 4.8 in Scorpius, about 79 light-years away.

Graffias is in the constellation Scorpius.
Best evenings: around early 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 69° 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.

EyesNeeds a dark sky away from city lights.
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	Graffias
Designation	ξ Scorpii (ξ Sco)
Type	Yellow-white subgiant
Spectral type	F6 IV-V
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.45
Magnitude	4.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	79 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1947.
Proper motion	0.070″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Scorpius
Right ascension (J2000)	16h 04m 22.0s
Declination (J2000)	−11° 22′ 29″