What it looks like
Sagitta is a tiny northern constellation drawn as an arrow. Its four main stars form a distinctive elongated shape with a forked tail, easy to pick out despite its faintness because it sits in a busy region of the Milky Way. It has been recognised as an arrow since at least the time of Ptolemy.
Brightest stars
Sagitta has no bright stars; its four main stars sit around magnitude 3.5 to 4.4.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma Sagittae | +3.51 | 274 ly | — |
| Delta Sagittae | +3.68 | 640 ly | — |
| Sham (α Sagittae) | +4.39 | 428 ly | Arrow |
| Beta Sagittae | +4.39 | 470 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Sagitta is usually identified with the arrow Heracles used to kill the eagle that tormented Prometheus, or with the arrow of Apollo.
Arrows of myth
Several arrows appear in Greek myth, and Sagitta is usually identified with one of two. The first is the arrow Heracles used to shoot the eagle that fed each day on the liver of the chained Prometheus. The second is the arrow Apollo used to kill the Cyclopes in revenge for the death of his son Asclepius. Both stories fit the constellation's small, isolated shape in the Milky Way, flying between the eagle Aquila and the fox Vulpecula.
How to find it
Look for a small, faint arrow shape just above Altair in Aquila, on summer and autumn evenings.
- Find Altair, then look directly above it for the arrow.
- Small and faint — best found with a chart or app.
- Best on summer and autumn evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Sge
- Genitive
- Sagittae
- Meaning
- The Arrow
- Brightest star
- Gamma Sagittae
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 86th
- Best visible
- August
- Declination
- +18°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Vulpecula, Hercules, Aquila, Delphinus
Deep-sky objects
Sagitta contains M71, a loose globular cluster once mistaken for an open cluster, and the faint planetary nebula NGC 6886. The constellation lies in a rich part of the Milky Way and contains several faint open clusters.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Sagitta look like?
Sagitta is the third-smallest constellation in the sky, known as the Arrow, a compact group of four faint stars flying between Aquila and Vulpecula.
What is the brightest star in Sagitta?
The brightest star in Sagitta is Gamma Sagittae, shining at around magnitude 3.51.
When is Sagitta best visible?
Sagitta is best seen from both hemispheres during August.
What is the story behind Sagitta?
In Greek myth, Sagitta is usually identified with the arrow Heracles used to kill the eagle that tormented Prometheus, or with the arrow of Apollo.
Which constellations are near Sagitta?
Sagitta borders Vulpecula, Hercules, Aquila and Delphinus.
Aquila
Hercules