When is the best time to observe Iota Scorpii?

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

Where is Iota Scorpii located in the sky?

Iota Scorpii lies in the constellation Scorpius at right ascension 17h 48m and declination -40° 08′.

What telescope do I need to see Iota Scorpii?

At magnitude 3.0, Iota Scorpii is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Iota Scorpii — Star in Scorpius

HIP 87073; Iota1 Scorpii

Magnitude 3.0^m Star Scorpius (Sco) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Iota Sco

Description

Iota Scorpii is an F-type yellow supergiant of spectral class F2 Ia about 1,900 light-years away, one of the intrinsically brightest stars in the tail region of Scorpius. It shines at magnitude 3.03 and has a luminosity of roughly 25,000 Suns. The primary is paired with a faint companion at about 37 arcseconds — likely an optical double rather than a physical system.

Observing Tips

Iota Sco sits in the stinger region of Scorpius, close to Shaula (Lambda Sco) and Mu Sco. Binoculars show a rich star field packed with the young members of the Upper Sco OB association. Best observed from the southern hemisphere or mid-southern latitudes, May through September.

History

Iota Sco has no widely-used traditional name. The star retains its Bayer designation in current catalogs.

Fun Facts

Iota Sco is an F-type supergiant — the rarer "warm" cousin of the more familiar red supergiants. The star is in a brief evolutionary phase as it transitions from being a blue-giant to a red-giant; its total lifetime in this state is just a few hundred thousand years.