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Kaus Australis

Epsilon Sagittarii, 20 Sagittarii

Proper NameKaus Australis
Bayer DesignationEpsilon Sagittarii
Flamsteed Number20 Sagittarii
HR (BSC)6879
HD169022
ConstellationSagittarius
Right Ascension18h 24m 10s
Declination-34° 23' 5"
Distance143 light years
44 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +1.8
Absolute: -1.4
Spectral ClassB9.5III Blue Giant
Optimum VisibilityJuly
NotesThe blue giant star at the heart of the Kaus Australis system is surrounded by a disc of dust and debris extending outwards from the star for more than 100 AU. The giant's binary companion, a dwarf star, orbits the giant primary within this circumstellar disc.

One of three stars (the others being Kaus Media and Kaus Borealis) that together make up the 'bow' of their home constellation, Sagittarius the Archer. Though designated Epsilon, Kaus Australis is actually the brightest of Sagittarius' stars.

Kaus Australis is just under 150 light years from the Solar System. Like all of Sagittarius' stars, it is in the general direction of the Galactic Nucleus.

Its spectral classification shows it to be a giant blue-white star, and a binary: the primary star is fairly bright, with a magnitude of +1.8, while its companion is much fainter at magnitude +14.1.

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