Sagittarius (constellation) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sagittarius
Constellation
Sagittarius
AbbreviationSgr
GenitiveSagittarii
Pronunciation/ˌsæɪˈtɛəriəs/, genitive /ˌsæɪˈtɛəri./
Symbolismthe Archer
Right ascension19
Declination−25
QuadrantSQ4
Area867 sq. deg. (15th)
Main stars12, 8
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
68
Stars with planets25
Stars brighter than 3.00m7
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)2
Brightest starε Sgr (Kaus Australis) (1.79m)
Messier objects15
Visible at latitudes between +55° and −90°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of August.
An image showing Sagittarius.
Messier 54 was the first globular cluster found outside the Milky Way

The constellation Sagittarius (meaning "the Archer") is a group of stars in one area of the night sky. The stars are in the shape of a centaur archer. This constellation is part of the Western zodiac.

The Milky Way is at its densest near Sagittarius, as this is where the galactic center lies. Consequently, Sagittarius contains many star clusters and nebulae. One of the brightest of the star clusters is Messier 55, about 7.5° west of δ Sgr.[1]

The complex radio source Sagittarius A is here. It lies between the Scorpius constellation and Astronomers believe that one of its components, known as Sagittarius A*, is associated with a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, with a mass of 2.6 million solar masses.[1]

Deep-sky objects

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Levy, David H. 2005. Deep sky objects. Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-59102-361-6