Sagittarius
Sagittarii · Sgr
Sagittarius is a zodiac constellation famous for its Teapot asterism. The center of the Milky Way lies in this direction, making it one of the richest for deep-sky objects. It contains more Messier objects than any other constellation, including M8, M17, M20, and M24.
Location in the Sky
When to Observe
Sagittarius is best observed during August. It is located in the SQ4 quadrant and is primarily visible from the southern hemisphere. The constellation contains 12 main stars forming its asterism, with 65 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Kaus Australis.
Mythology & History
In Greek mythology, Sagittarius represents a centaur archer, often identified with Crotus, son of Pan, who invented archery. The Babylonians saw this region as Nergal, a centaur-like deity. The archer's arrow points toward Scorpius.
Stars in Sagittarius
22 cataloged stars