Orange giant · Sagittarius

Kaus Borealis

Also known as: λ Sagittarii (λ Sgr), HIP 90496

mag 2.878 light-years

About

Kaus Borealis (λ Sagittarii) is an orange giant of magnitude 2.8 in Sagittarius, about 78 light-years away.

Kaus Borealis 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 55° 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 Borealis
Designation	λ Sagittarii (λ Sgr)
Hipparcos number	HIP 90496
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K1IIIb
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 1.02
Magnitude	2.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	78 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1948.
Proper motion	0.19″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Sagittarius
Right ascension (J2000)	18h 27m 58.2s
Declination (J2000)	−25° 25′ 18″