Blue-white subgiant · Scorpius

Shaula

Also known as: λ Scorpii (λ Sco), HIP 85927

mag 1.6570 light-years

About

Shaula (λ Scorpii) is a blue-white subgiant of magnitude 1.6 in Scorpius, about 570 light-years away.

Shaula is in the constellation Scorpius.
Best evenings: around late 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 43° 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. It looks blue-white.
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	Shaula
Designation	λ Scorpii (λ Sco)
Hipparcos number	HIP 85927
Type	Blue-white subgiant
Spectral type	B1.5IV+
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.23
Magnitude	1.6The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	570 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1460.
Proper motion	0.031″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Scorpius
Right ascension (J2000)	17h 33m 36.5s
Declination (J2000)	−37° 06′ 14″