Sagittarius
The teapot pointing at the galaxy's heart
Best on June–August evenings · southern sky.
Sagittarius is a large southern constellation best known for the Teapot — a compact eight-star asterism whose shape is instantly recognizable once you've seen it. It sits right on the heart of the Milky Way, and the star clouds billowing above its spout mark the direction of our galaxy's center.
How to find it
Look south on summer evenings from the northern hemisphere, or high overhead from southern latitudes. Start at Scorpius and slide eastward from its bright tail — Sagittarius sits just to its left, and the Teapot's spout points back toward Scorpius. The brightest star in the group, Kaus Australis, marks the bottom of the spout and anchors the whole pattern.
Brightest stars
Kaus Australis (ε Sgr) leads at magnitude 1.85, forming the base of the Teapot's spout. Nunki (σ Sgr) follows at magnitude 2.02, marking the handle, with Ascella (2.6), Kaus Media (2.7), Kaus Borealis (2.81), and Albaldah (2.89) filling out the rest of the pattern.
Worth seeing
The dense Milky Way star clouds rising above the Teapot's spout are the finest in the sky — on a dark summer night, it genuinely looks like steam pouring from the kettle, and you're staring straight toward the galactic center.
Frequently asked
When is Sagittarius visible?
Summer evenings, roughly June through August, when it climbs the southern sky for northern hemisphere observers. From southern latitudes it rides much higher and is even easier to see.
What are the brightest stars in Sagittarius?
Kaus Australis is the brightest at magnitude 1.85, followed by Nunki at 2.02. Ascella, Kaus Media, Kaus Borealis, and Albaldah all fall between magnitudes 2.6 and 2.89 and together form the recognizable Teapot shape.
Which hemisphere is Sagittarius best seen from?
It's a southern constellation, sitting low on the horizon for observers at mid-northern latitudes and riding higher the farther south you go. Southern hemisphere observers get the best view, but it's still well worth finding from the northern hemisphere on clear summer nights.
Nearby constellations
Capricornus · Aquila · Ophiuchus · Scorpius · Delphinus · Triangulum Australe · Serpens · Libra