When is the best time to observe Sadachbia?

Sadachbia is best observed from July through September, with peak visibility during August when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Sadachbia located in the sky?

Sadachbia lies in the constellation Aquarius at right ascension 22h 22m and declination -01° 23′.

What telescope do I need to see Sadachbia?

At magnitude 3.8, Sadachbia is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Sadachbia — Star in Aquarius

HIP 110395; Gamma Aquarii; 48 Aquarii

Magnitude 3.8^m Star Aquarius (Aqr) Visible

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About Sadachbia

Description

Sadachbia, Gamma Aquarii, is an A0 V main-sequence star about 163 light-years away. It shines at magnitude 3.84 and is a classic young hot A-type star — fast-rotating, with broad spectral lines. Sadachbia has a mass of about 2.5 Suns and anchors the famous "Water Jar" asterism of Aquarius, one of the most recognizable small patterns in the autumn sky.

Observing Tips

Sadachbia is part of the four-star Water Jar asterism — a small diagonal Y-shape of bright stars at the heart of Aquarius. Binoculars reveal the four-star pattern clearly. Sadachbia lies slightly east of center in the asterism. Best observed August through November.

History

The name Sadachbia comes from the Arabic "sa'd al-ʾakhbiyah," meaning "the lucky stars of hidden places" or "the luck of the tents." This refers to a pre-Islamic weather-prognostication theme: the heliacal rising of this star was associated with the end of winter, when nomads emerged from their tents. The IAU adopted the name in 2016.

Fun Facts

Sadachbia is the most northerly star of the Water Jar and serves as its anchor; the jar asterism itself traces back to ancient Babylonian astronomy, where the figure represented the god Ea pouring the waters of creation.