Shaula — Double Star in Scorpius
HIP 85927; Lambda Scorpii; 35 Scorpii
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.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to split?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
5Light Curve
6Multiple Star System Triple
Separation over time
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.
Eyepiece View
A: 1.6 · B: 9.2 · Sep: 94.4″ · PA: 330° · N up, E left
Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″
Explore
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Size Comparison
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Compare Stars
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Spectral Classification
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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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Stellar Lifecycle
13
Blackbody Spectrum
14
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
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Stellar Fusion
Discover
16Stellar Notes
17
Light Travel Time Machine
18
Relativistic Travel
Survey Image
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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.
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