When is the best time to observe Omega Scorpii?

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

Where is Omega Scorpii located in the sky?

Omega Scorpii lies in the constellation Scorpius at right ascension 16h 07m and declination -20° 40′.

What telescope do I need to see Omega Scorpii?

At magnitude 4.0, Omega Scorpii is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Omega Scorpii — Star in Scorpius

HIP 78933; Omega1 Scorpii; 9 Scorpii

Magnitude 4.0^m Star Scorpius (Sco) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Omega Sco

Description

Omega Scorpii is a blue B1 V main-sequence star about 471 light-years away. It pairs with Omega-2 Sco — a more-distant physically-unrelated G-type giant — in a wide naked-eye optical double. Omega-1 shines at magnitude 3.96 and is a member of the Upper Sco OB association, a nearby young-massive-star group. No close companion has been detected via modern spectroscopy.

Observing Tips

Omega-1 and Omega-2 Sco form a naked-eye pair north of the main Scorpius body, separated by 0.25 degrees. Binoculars show them clearly. The color contrast is subtle — Omega-1 bluer, Omega-2 yellower — due to their very different spectral types. Best observed May through September.

History

The Omega designation was assigned by Bayer in 1603. No widely-used traditional name has been formalized.

Fun Facts

Omega Sco is one of many B-type stars in the Upper Sco OB association — this young association is one of the closest substantial groupings of massive stars to the Sun, and provides a nearby laboratory for studying star formation and early stellar evolution.