Kaus Media
Kaus Media (δ Sagittarii) is a orange supergiant star in the constellation Sagittarius. With an apparent magnitude of 2.7 it is the 117th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 416 light-years from Earth.
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Facts
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
|---|---|
| Designation | δ Sagittarii (Delta Sagittarii), HR 6859 |
| Apparent magnitude | 2.7 (117th brightest) |
| Spectral type | K3-IIIa* |
| Color | orange (B−V 1.38) |
| Distance | about 416 light-years |
| Right ascension | 18 h 21.0 min |
| Declination | −29.83° |
| Best month | August (at about 9 pm) |
How to find Kaus Media
Kaus Media is in Sagittarius. From 40° N it is highest in the south in August evenings, about 20° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 85° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Kaus Australis (5° away), Nunki (8° away) and Shaula (12° away).
Where on Earth can you see Kaus Media?
Kaus Media is best seen in the evening in August. The table shows, for different latitudes, whether it ever rises and how high it climbs when it crosses the meridian.
| Latitude | Visibility | Highest point |
|---|---|---|
| 60° N (Oslo, Helsinki) | Rises and sets | 0° (south) |
| 50° N (Frankfurt, Prague) | Rises and sets | 10° (south) |
| 40° N (New York, Madrid, Beijing) | Rises and sets | 20° (south) |
| 30° N (Cairo, New Orleans) | Rises and sets | 30° (south) |
| 20° N (Mexico City, Mumbai) | Rises and sets | 40° (south) |
| 0° (Quito, Nairobi) | Rises and sets | 60° (south) |
| 20° S (Rio de Janeiro area) | Rises and sets | 80° (south) |
| 35° S (Sydney, Buenos Aires) | Rises and sets | 85° (north) |
| 45° S (Dunedin, southern Patagonia) | Rises and sets | 75° (north) |
How far away is Kaus Media?
Kaus Media is about 416 light-years from Earth. The light you see tonight left the star around the year 1610. That is about 95 times farther than Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun.
What kind of star is Kaus Media?
Kaus Media has the spectral type K3-IIIa*. Stars of class K have surface temperatures of about 3,700 to 5,200 kelvin, which makes them look orange. It is a supergiant: a massive star late in its life, far larger and many thousands of times more luminous than the Sun.
Messier objects near Kaus Media
Within 12° of Kaus Media (about the width of a fist at arm's length) lie Messier 69 (M69) at 3°, Messier 28 (M28) at 5°, Messier 70 (M70) at 5°, Lagoon Nebula (M8) at 7°, Messier 22 (M22) at 7° and Messier 54 (M54) at 7°.
Questions about Kaus Media
How far away is Kaus Media?
About 416 light-years. The light we see today left it around the year 1610.
What color is Kaus Media?
Kaus Media looks orange. Its spectral type is K3-IIIa*, which means a surface temperature of about 3,700 to 5,200 kelvin.
Can you see Kaus Media from the Northern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 40° N it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 20° high in the south.
Can you see Kaus Media from the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 35° S it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 85° high in the north.
When is the best time to see Kaus Media?
In the evening in August, when it is highest at about 9 pm. It is 2.7 magnitude, the 117th-brightest star in the night sky.