Star profile
Kaus Australis
Epsilon Sagittarii · Sagittarius
Hot blue starWhat is Kaus Australis
Kaus Australis marks the lower part of the archer's bow in Sagittarius, the 'southern bow' aimed straight at the galactic heart. It is a hot, young blue star, fierce enough to cut through the dense band of the Milky Way behind it. Its light set out about 143 years ago, when the first transatlantic telegraph cables were still being laid.
Where it is and when to see it
Kaus Australis lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is June, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it culminates about 4° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 15° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 90° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 56° N.
It is the brightest of the 117 stars of Sagittarius in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.
The light you see today left it about 140 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Kaus Australis
- Constellation
- Sagittarius
- Apparent magnitude
- 1.79
- Distance
- 143.3 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 276.043° · Dec -34.385°
- Catalogue
- HIP 90185 · HD 169022
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Other stars in Sagittarius
Sagittarius has 117 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- NunkiSigma Sagittarii2.05
- AscellaZeta Sagittarii2.60
- Kaus MediaDelta Sagittarii2.72
- Kaus BorealisLambda Sagittarii2.82
- AlbaldahPi Sagittarii2.88
- AlnaslGamma 2 Sagittarii2.98
- Eta Sagittarii3.10
- Phi Sagittarii3.17