Blue-white subgiant · Scorpius

Iklil

Also known as: ρ Scorpii (ρ Sco), HIP 78104

mag 3.9470 light-years

About

Iklil (ρ Scorpii) is a blue-white subgiant of magnitude 3.9 in Scorpius, about 470 light-years away.

Iklil 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 51° 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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
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	Iklil
Designation	ρ Scorpii (ρ Sco)
Hipparcos number	HIP 78104
Type	Blue-white subgiant
Spectral type	B2IV/V
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.20
Magnitude	3.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	470 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1550.
Proper motion	0.029″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Scorpius
Right ascension (J2000)	15h 56m 53.1s
Declination (J2000)	−29° 12′ 51″