Sagittarius constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
Sagittarius (Sgr) is a southern constellation covering 867 square degrees, number 15 of 88 by size. Its brightest star is Kaus Australis, a blue-white giant, magnitude 1.9. It is best seen in the evening in August. Over London it stays low — you need an open southern horizon. Its neighbours in the sky: Aquila, Capricornus, Corona Australis, Indus, Microscopium, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Scutum, Serpens, Telescopium.
Area: 867 square degrees, 15 of 88 · Neighbours: Aquila, Capricornus, Corona Australis, Indus, Microscopium, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Scutum, Serpens, Telescopium · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Sagittarius
- 1
When to look
The best time is in August in the evening: —.
- 2
Use the neighbours
Find it from the neighbouring constellations: Aquila, Capricornus, Corona Australis, Indus.
- 3
Brightest stars
The brightest stars of the figure: Kaus Australis (1.9ᵐ), Nunki (2.0ᵐ), Ascella (2.6ᵐ).
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January — december | — | not visible, behind the Sun |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Kaus Australis · ε Sgr | blue-white giant | 1.9ᵐ |
| Nunki · σ Sgr | blue-white main-sequence star | 2.0ᵐ |
| Ascella · ζ Sgr | white giant | 2.6ᵐ |
| Kaus Media · δ Sgr | orange giant | 2.7ᵐ |
| Kaus Borealis · λ Sgr | orange giant | 2.8ᵐ |
| Alnasl · γ² Sgr | orange giant | 3.0ᵐ |
| Heryibwia · η Sgr | red giant | 3.1ᵐ |
| Nandou · φ Sgr | blue-white giant | 3.2ᵐ |
Sagittarius FAQ
When is the best time to see Sagittarius?
Where is Sagittarius in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Sagittarius?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0