Shaula

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.

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.

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.