What it looks like
Sagittarius is a large zodiac constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, drawn as a centaur drawing a bow. Its brightest stars form the Teapot, and the constellation sits in the densest part of the Milky Way, toward the galactic centre.
Brightest stars
Sagittarius contains several bright stars, including Kaus Australis, the brightest, and the stars that form the Teapot.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaus Australis (ε Sagittarii) | +1.79 | 143 ly | Southern Bow |
| Nunki (σ Sagittarii) | +2.05 | 228 ly | — |
| Ascella (ζ Sagittarii) | +2.60 | 88 ly | Armpit |
| Kaus Media (δ Sagittarii) | +2.70 | 306 ly | Middle Bow |
| Kaus Borealis (λ Sagittarii) | +2.81 | 77 ly | Northern Bow |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Sagittarius is usually identified with Crotus, a centaur and skilled archer, or with the wise centaur Chiron.
Crotus and Chiron
Sagittarius is commonly linked to Crotus, son of Pan and Eupheme, who invented the bow and was placed among the stars by the Muses. An alternative tradition identifies the archer with Chiron, the wise centaur who taught Achilles and Heracles. The constellation is often drawn aiming its arrow at the heart of Scorpius, the scorpion.
Mesopotamian roots
Babylonian astronomers recorded a centaur-archer figure in this region as early as the 11th century BC, associated with the god Pabilsag.
How to find it
Look for the Teapot — a distinctive group of eight stars — in the southern sky on summer evenings, with the Milky Way streaming through it.
- Find the Teapot first; its lid points toward the galactic centre.
- Look for the dense Milky Way star clouds just west of the Teapot.
- Best on summer evenings from the southern hemisphere and low northern latitudes.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Sgr
- Genitive
- Sagittarii
- Meaning
- The Archer
- Brightest star
- Kaus Australis
- Main stars
- 16
- Area rank
- 15th
- Best visible
- August
- Declination
- -25°
- Meteor showers
- Sagittariids
- Neighbours
- Aquila, Scutum, Serpens, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Corona Australis, Telescopium, Indus, Microscopium, Capricornus
Deep-sky objects
Sagittarius looks toward the centre of the Milky Way, about 26,000 light-years away, and is packed with nebulae and clusters: the Lagoon Nebula (M8), the Trifid Nebula (M20), the Omega Nebula (M17), and the globular cluster M22. The supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* sits within the constellation's boundaries.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Sagittarius look like?
Sagittarius is a zodiac constellation known as the Archer, marked by the Teapot asterism and pointing toward the centre of the Milky Way.
What is the brightest star in Sagittarius?
The brightest star in Sagittarius is Kaus Australis, shining at around magnitude 1.79.
When is Sagittarius best visible?
Sagittarius is best seen from southern hemisphere during August.
What is the story behind Sagittarius?
In Greek myth, Sagittarius is usually identified with Crotus, a centaur and skilled archer, or with the wise centaur Chiron.
Which constellations are near Sagittarius?
Sagittarius borders Aquila, Scutum, Serpens, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Corona Australis, Telescopium, Indus, Microscopium and Capricornus.
Scorpius
Capricornus