Rukbat
star · Sagittarius · 4.0ᵐ
Blue-white star in Sagittarius. It lies about 182 light years from Earth. In visible light it shines roughly 69 times as bright as the Sun.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Rukbat around the year 1844.
About 7 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Rukbat in?
Rukbat lies in Sagittarius.
Is Rukbat visible to the naked eye?
4.0ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Rukbat?
Best observed in July.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 19h 24m · −40° 37′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Sagittarius
- How to observe
- 4.0ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B8V — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- 0.2ᵐ
- Luminosity (visual)
- ≈69 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~182 light years
- Designation
- HIP 95347
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | 4° | 157° |
| +30° | 19° | 139° |
| 0° | 49° | 131° |
| −35° | 84° | 143° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 11:38 |
| February | 09:31 |
| March | 07:46 |
| April | 05:52 |
| May | 03:58 |
| June | 01:52 |
| July | 23:48 |
| August | 21:47 |
| September | 19:54 |
| October | 18:05 |
| November | 16:05 |
| December | 13:56 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.