When is the best time to observe Sargas?

Sargas is best observed from May through July, with peak visibility during June when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Sargas located in the sky?

Sargas lies in the constellation Scorpius at right ascension 17h 37m and declination -42° 60′.

What telescope do I need to split Sargas?

Splitting Sargas requires an aperture of roughly 80 mm or larger — the components are separated by about 6.5″ at magnitudes near 1.9. The companion is about 3.5 magnitudes fainter, so glare from the primary — not separation — sets the minimum aperture. Larger apertures and steady seeing help resolve the pair cleanly.

Sargas — Double Star in Scorpius

HIP 86228; Theta Scorpii

Observable Double Star Excellent (64/100)

Sep: 6.5", Companion: mag 5.4

Magnitude 1.9^m DoubleStar Scorpius (Sco) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Sargas

Description

Sargas is a yellow-white giant of spectral type F1II at magnitude 1.87 in Scorpius. Located about 300 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of roughly 1,930 times solar. Sargas lies in the tail of the Scorpion, between Shaula at the tip and Antares at the heart.

Observing Tips

Sargas is the bright star in the curve of the Scorpion's tail, just north of the stinger pair Shaula/Lesath. Its slightly warm white color is noticeable among the bluer stars of Scorpius. From mid-northern latitudes it sits very low on the southern horizon. Best observed June through August.

History

The name Sargas is of Sumerian origin, one of the oldest star names still in use. It appears in Babylonian star catalogs dating back over 3,000 years. The exact meaning is debated but may relate to the scorpion figure. Sargas was an important star in Mesopotamian astronomy and astrology.

Fun Facts

Sargas is one of the few bright stars whose name is genuinely Sumerian rather than Arabic or Greek in origin, connecting us directly to some of the earliest astronomers in human history, who observed from the plains of Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago.

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 1.87

Spectral Type F1III giant

Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.40)

Distance 270 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 37m 19.2s

Dec -42° 59' 52.0"

Constellation Scorpius (Sco)

HR 6553

HIP 86228

HD 159532

SAO 228201

Bayer Theta

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to split?

Primary 1.9 mag Companion 5.4 mag Separation 6.5″

Telescope	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
80 mm refractor 80mm refr.	Medium+	Medium+	Medium+
150 mm Newton 150mm Newt.	Easy	Easy	Easy
Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm	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

Separation 6.5″

Companion Mag 5.4

Position Angle 315°

Star Colors A: Yellow-white B: Orange

Discoverer SEE 510

Separation over time

Measured 1896 → 1991 (95 y)

Separation drift 6.2" → 6.5" (+0.30")

Rate +0.0032" / y

PA drift 322° → 315° (-7°, -0.074°/y)

Slow change over generations — observable in lifetime comparisons.

Measured from the WDS observational archive. No orbital solution has been derived — most likely the period is too long to fit an orbit to the available measurement arc.