Sabik — Double Star in Ophiuchus

HIP 84012; Eta Ophiuchi; 35 Ophiuchi

Magnitude 2.4^m DoubleStar Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Sabik

Description

Sabik is a white star of spectral type A2V at magnitude 2.43 in Ophiuchus. Located about 84 light-years from Earth, it is actually a close binary system with two A-type stars orbiting each other every 88 years. The combined luminosity is about 39 times solar.

Observing Tips

Sabik lies in the southern part of Ophiuchus, roughly between Antares and Rasalhague. It is a white star of moderate brightness. The binary companion can be resolved in a moderate telescope when the stars are near maximum separation. Best observed June through September.

History

The name Sabik comes from the Arabic, possibly meaning 'the preceding one.' Sabik has been an important navigational star due to its brightness and position near the ecliptic. It was one of the 57 navigational stars used in traditional celestial navigation.

Fun Facts

Sabik is one of the 57 traditional navigational stars selected for celestial navigation tables. Its position near the ecliptic means planets regularly pass near it, and it is occasionally occulted by the Moon.

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 2.43

Spectral Type A2IV-V subgiant

Star Color White (B-V 0.06)

Distance 88 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 10m 22.7s

Dec -15° 43' 29.0"

Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)

HR 6378

HIP 84012

HD 155125

SAO 160332

Bayer Eta

Flamsteed 35 Oph

Double Cat 10374

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to spot?

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.

Equipment	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
Naked eye Naked eye	Easy	Easy	Easy
50 mm finder 50mm finder	Easy	Easy	Easy
150 mm telescope 150mm scope	Easy	Easy	Easy

Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System Quadruple D: optical

Components 4 (quadruple)

Component IDs AB

Separation 0.3″

Companion Mag 3.3

Companion Sp A1IV

Position Angle 222°

Star Colors A: White B: White

Discoverer BU 1118

Notes

AB 3.0 A2V, 3.5 A3V, 88y, a = 0.86". Combined mag., colors.

Separation over time

Period: 87.8 y Eccentricity: 0.942 Now: 0.30", PA 32° + 0.06" in 5 years

Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.

Explore

7

Size Comparison

Querying VizieR for stellar data…

8

Compare Stars

Compare with another star

9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Loading HR diagram…

Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map

11

Stellar Lifecycle

12

Blackbody Spectrum

13

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

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

14

Stellar Fusion

Discover

15Stellar Notes

Dynamical

0.022".

Alternative Names

Sabik.

16

Light Travel Time Machine

17

Relativistic Travel

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars

Globular Cluster mag 7.7 3.5° Ophiuchus

Eclipsing binary, period 15.9h

Variable Star mag 6.10 5.0° Ophiuchus

Colorful double, sep 4.1″

Double Star mag 4.39 5.9° Ophiuchus

Colorful double, sep 10.7″

Double Star mag 5.20 8.7° Ophiuchus

Explore Nightbase

Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.

Double Stars — A Guide for Observers

Two suns where one appeared — how to find, split, and appreciate the night sky's finest pairs. From Albireo's gold-and-blue to the Sirius B challenge.

Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.

The Great Red Spot, cloud belts, and the Galilean moons.

}