Blue-white giant · Sagittarius

Kaus Australis

Also known as: ε Sagittarii (ε Sgr), HIP 90185

mag 1.8140 light-years

About

Kaus Australis (ε Sagittarii) is a blue-white giant of magnitude 1.8 in Sagittarius, about 140 light-years away.

Kaus Australis is in the constellation Sagittarius.
Best evenings: around mid-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 46° N.
Star patterns: Teapot.

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	Kaus Australis
Designation	ε Sagittarii (ε Sgr)
Hipparcos number	HIP 90185
Type	Blue-white giant
Spectral type	B9.5III
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index −0.03
Magnitude	1.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	140 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1880.
Proper motion	0.13″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Sagittarius
Right ascension (J2000)	18h 24m 10.3s
Declination (J2000)	−34° 23′ 05″