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Sagittarius constellation

Sagittarius is a zodiac constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Kaus Australis. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.

  • Summerbest seen
  • Kaus Australisbrightest star, magnitude 1.8
  • SgrSagittarius
Show on the sky map
The constellation Sagittarius in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Shaula, Scorpius — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapKaus Australis, Sagittarius — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapKaus AustralisSargas, Scorpius — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapNunki, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapNunkiMula, Scorpius — magnitude 2.4. Open on the sky mapAscella, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapAscellaLesath, Scorpius — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapKaus Media, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapKaus MediaKaus Borealis, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapKaus BorealisAlbaldah, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlnasl, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapGirtab, Scorpius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapHamalwarid, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.1. Open on the sky mapNamalsadirah, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapτ Sagittarii — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapξ² Sagittarii — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapο Sagittarii — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapPolis, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapρ¹ Sagittarii — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapArkab Prior, Sagittarius — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapRukbat, Sagittarius — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapι Sagittarii — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapArkab Posterior, Sagittarius — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapθ¹ Sagittarii — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapc Sagittarii — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapυ Sagittarii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map3 Sagittarii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapb¹ Sagittarii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapHIP 88839, Sagittarius — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky maph² Sagittarii — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Sagittarius

The brightest stars of Sagittarius form the “Teapot”. From mid-northern latitudes it barely rises above the southern horizon — it is better seen from farther south. The center of our Galaxy lies in this direction.

Best seen in summer: in August around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 10°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Kaus Australisε Sagittarii 1.8bluish white—
Nunkiσ Sagittarii 2.0blue—
Ascellaζ Sagittarii 2.6bluish white—
Kaus Mediaδ Sagittarii 2.7orange—
Kaus Borealisλ Sagittarii 2.8orange—
Albaldahπ Sagittarii 2.9white—
Alnaslγ² Sagittarii 3.0orange—
Hamalwaridη Sagittarii 3.1orange—
Namalsadirahφ Sagittarii 3.2blue—
τ Sagittarii 3.3orange—
ξ² Sagittarii 3.5orange—
ο Sagittarii 3.8orange—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Sagittarius in the sky?

The brightest stars of Sagittarius form the “Teapot”. From mid-northern latitudes it barely rises above the southern horizon — it is better seen from farther south. The center of our Galaxy lies in this direction.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Sagittarius?

In summer: in August around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Sagittarius?

Kaus Australis: magnitude 1.8, bluish white.

How many stars are there in the constellation Sagittarius?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 117 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Summer constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Sagittarius is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map