Star profile
Xi Scorpii
Binary systemWhat is Xi Scorpii
Xi Scorpii is a multiple system in the body of the Scorpion, where several yellow and white stars share an intricate gravitational dance some eighty light-years away. Its main components split with a modest telescope, offering one of the finest double-star sights of the northern summer. It is one of the stellar knots that has taught astronomers most about the real masses of stars.
Where it is and when to see it
Xi Scorpii lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is May, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it culminates about 27° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 38° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 67° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 79° N.
It ranks no. 41 in brightness among the 104 stars of Scorpius in our catalogue. To find it, start from Antares, the brightest: it lies about 16° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 79 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Xi Scorpii
- Constellation
- Scorpius
- Apparent magnitude
- 5.00
- Distance
- 79.4 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 241.092° · Dec -11.375°
- Catalogue
- HYG 119059 · HD 144069
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Scorpius
Scorpius has 104 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- AntaresAlpha Scorpii1.06
- ShaulaLambda Scorpii1.62
- SargasTheta Scorpii1.86
- Acrab BBeta 2 Scorpii4.90
- Psi Scorpii4.93
- HIP 786504.96
- HIP 833365.03
- HIP 840335.06