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Shaula

HIP 85927; Lambda Sco; 35 Sco

HIP 85927; Lambda Sco; 35 Sco DoubleStar Sco Visible Level 3 Medium telescope (6-8") - Requires steady seeing
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Physical Properties

Magnitude 1.63
Variable Type Beta Cephei (Pulsating)
Spectral Type B1.5 IV + B
Star Color Blue (B-V -0.22)
Distance 570.0 ly

Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 33m 36.5s
Dec -37° 06' 14.0"
Constellation Sco
HR 6527
HIP 85927
Bayer Lambda
Flamsteed 35 Sco
Variable ID Lam Sco

Visibility

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Multiple Star System

Components 3
Component IDs AC
Separation 42.4″
Companion Mag 14.9
Companion Sp B
Position Angle 106°
Star Colors A: Blue B: Blue
Discoverer SEE 334

Eyepiece View

80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°
Realistic = true angular size
N E 106° A (1.6) B (14.9)

Sep: 42.4″ · PA: 106° · N up, E left

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 3.1″

Size Comparison

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Stellar Lifecycle

Spectral Classification

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Blackbody Spectrum

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

Stellar Notes

Beta C 1.59 - 1.65V, 0.2137015d, secondary 0.1068518d, beat period 10.1605d. Also possible 0.04V eclipse. X-ray | flare observed in vicinity Lambda Sco on 1 June 1975.
5.6d. Interferometer measures indicate multiple star.
Color excess E(B-V) = +0.03.
Sco-Cen assoc.
Lyman alpha and Lyman beta observed from COPERNICUS.
SHAULA.

Survey Image

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About Shaula

Description

Shaula (Lambda Scorpii) is a blue subgiant of spectral type B2IV, located about 570 light-years from Earth. At magnitude 1.63, it is the second brightest star in Scorpius (after Antares) and marks the tip of the Scorpion's tail, where the stinger would be. Shaula is actually a triple star system with a combined luminosity of about 36,000 times the Sun's. The primary is a Beta Cephei variable, pulsating with a period of about 4.7 hours.

Observing Tips

Shaula forms a close pair with Lesath (Upsilon Scorpii, magnitude 2.7) — together they are sometimes called the 'Cat's Eyes' at the tip of the Scorpion's tail. This close pair is a pretty sight in binoculars. The open clusters M6 (Butterfly Cluster) and M7 (Ptolemy's Cluster) lie just a few degrees to the north, making this region rich territory for binocular sweeping. Shaula is best observed from May through August from locations with a good southern horizon.

History

The name Shaula comes from the Arabic 'al-Shawla' meaning 'the raised tail,' describing its position at the tip of the scorpion's tail. The Shaula-Lesath pair was noted by many ancient cultures. In Polynesian navigation, these stars served as important waypoints for oceanic voyaging.

Fun Facts

Shaula's close visual pairing with Lesath is a line-of-sight coincidence — the two stars are at very different distances (Lesath is about 580 light-years away, nearly the same as Shaula, but they are unrelated gravitationally). The pair's proximity earned them the nickname 'Cat's Eyes' from Australian observers.