Lambda Scorpii

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Triple star system in the constellation Scorpius

title: "Lambda Scorpii" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["b-type-subgiants", "beta-cephei-variables", "multiple-stars", "scorpius", "bayer-objects", "bright-star-catalogue-objects", "durchmusterung-objects", "flamsteed-objects", "henry-draper-catalogue-objects", "hipparcos-objects", "stars-with-proper-names"] description: "Triple star system in the constellation Scorpius" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_Scorpii" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Triple star system in the constellation Scorpius ::

| name=λ Scorpii | image = {{Location mark |image=Scorpius constellation map.svg|alt=|float=center|width=280 |label=|position=right |mark=Red circle.svg|mark_width=12|mark_link=Shaula|x=247|y=712 | caption = Location of λ Scorpii (circled)}} | pronounce = | epoch = J2000 | ra = | dec = | appmag_v = 1.63 | constell = Scorpius | type = Main sequence (A and B) + pre-main sequence (a) | class = B1.5IV + B2IV | b-v = −0.240 | u-b = −0.880 | variable = Beta Cephei (Aa1) + Algol (Aa1/2) | radial_v = −3.00 | prop_mo_ra = −8.90 | prop_mo_dec = −29.95 | pm_footnote = | parallax = 5.71 | p_error = 0.90 | parallax_footnote = | absmag_v = −3.70 | reference = | primary = Aa | name = Ab | period = 2.8825 | axis_unitless = | eccentricity = 0.121 | inclination = 77.2 | reference = | primary = Aa1 | name = Aa2 | period_unitless = | eccentricity = 0.26 | k1 = 39.3 | component1 = λ Sco Aa1 (A) | mass = 10.4 | radius = | luminosity = 36,300 | temperature = | metal_fe=|gravity = 3.8 | rotational_velocity = 150 | rotation = days | age_myr = | component2 = λ Sco Aa2 (a) | mass2 = | radius2 = | component1 = λ Sco Ab (B) | mass = 8.1 | radius = | temperature = | gravity = 4.0 | names =

Lambda Scorpii is a triple star system and the second-brightest object in the constellation of Scorpius. It is formally named Shaula; Lambda Scorpii is its Bayer designation, which is Latinised from λ Scorpii and abbreviated Lambda Sco or λ Sco. With an apparent visual magnitude of 1.63, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Nomenclature

λ Scorpii (Latinised to Lambda Scorpii) is the star system's Bayer designation.

It bore the traditional name Shaula, which comes from the Arabic الشولاء al-šawlā´ meaning 'the raised [tail]', as it is found in the tail of Scorpius, the scorpion. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN, which included Shaula for the star λ Scorpii Aa1.

In Indian astronomy, it is part of the asterism Mula with other stars in the tail of Scorpius. Mūla ("root") (Devanagari मूल/मूळ) (Tamil: மூலம்) is the 19th nakshatra or "lunar mansion" in Vedic astrology. The symbol of Mula is a bunch of roots tied together (reticulated roots) or an 'elephant goad' (ankusha).

In Chinese, 尾宿 (Wěi Xiù), meaning Tail, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Scorpii, ε Scorpii, ζ1 Scorpii, ζ2 Scorpii, η Scorpii, θ Scorpii, ι1 Scorpii, ι2 Scorpii, κ Scorpii, μ1 Scorpii, and υ Scorpii. Consequently, the Chinese name for λ Scorpii itself is 尾宿八 (Wěi Xiù bā), "the Eighth Star of Tail".

Together with υ Scorpii (Lesath), Shaula is listed in the Babylonian compendium MUL.APIN as dSharur4 u dShargaz, meaning "Sharur and Shargaz". In Coptic, these two stars were called Minamref.

The indigenous Boorong people of northwestern Victoria (Australia) named it (together with Upsilon Scorpii) Karik Karik, "the Falcons".

Properties

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/LambdaScoLightCurve.png" caption="TESS]]'' data. The large dips in brightness are eclipses, and the rapid oscillations show the Beta Cephei variability."] ::

Lambda Scorpii is located approximately 570 light-years away from the Sun.

Spectroscopic and interferometric observations have shown that it is actually a triple star system consisting of two B-type stars and a pre-main-sequence star. The primary star is a Beta Cephei variable star with rapid brightness changes of about a hundredth of a magnitude. The pre-main-sequence star has an orbital period of 6 days and the B-type companion has a period of 1,053 days. The three stars lie in the same orbital plane, strongly suggesting that they were formed at the same time. The masses of the primary, pre-main-sequence star and the B-type companion are 14.5, 2.0 and 10.6 solar masses, respectively. The age of the system is estimated to be in the range 10–13 million years.

A 15th-magnitude star has a separation of 42 arcseconds, whereas a 12th-magnitude star is 95 arcseconds away. It is not known whether or not these components are physically associated with Lambda Scorpii. If they both were, the first would have a projected linear separation of approximately 7,500 astronomical units (AU) and the second approximately 17,000 AU (0.27 light-years) away. Gaia Data Release 3 reports that the fainter of these two stars is a little larger and brighter than the sun and about 420 light years away, while the brighter star is a background object.

In culture

Shaula appears on the flag of Brazil, symbolizing the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

USS Shaula (AK-118) was a U.S. Navy Crater-class cargo ship named after the star.

References

References

  1. {{cite Gaia DR3. 5962581880247644288
  2. {{cite Gaia DR3. 5962570094857321472
  3. Tokovinin, Andrei. (2018-03-01). "The Updated Multiple Star Catalog". [[The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series]].
  4. (2000). "The Tycho-2 catalogue of the 2.5 million brightest stars". Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  5. (1857). "On the astronomy and mythology of the Aborigines of Victoria". Proceedings of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria.
  6. {{in lang. zh [http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Space/Research/StarName/c_research_chinengstars_ala_alz.htm 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表] {{webarchive. link. (2008-10-25 , Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.)
  7. {{in lang. zh ''中國星座神話'', written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, {{ISBN. 978-986-7332-25-7.
  8. "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1".
  9. "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)".
  10. "MAST: Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes". Space Telescope Science Institute.
  11. (2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  12. (1993). "A catalogue of spectral classification and photometric data of B-type stars". Astrophysics and Space Science.
  13. (2006). "Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities for 35 495 Hipparcos stars in a common system". Astronomy Letters.
  14. (1975). "The luminosities of the beta Canis Majoris variables, the zero age main sequence and the distance of the Sco-Cen association". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
  15. (2013). "Time-resolved multicolour photometry of bright B-type variable stars in Scorpius". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
  16. (2004). "Interpretation of the variability of the β Cephei star λ Scorpii". Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  17. "Lambda Sco". [[AAVSO]].
  18. "Mula". [[IAU Working Group on Star Names]].

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b-type-subgiantsbeta-cephei-variablesmultiple-starsscorpiusbayer-objectsbright-star-catalogue-objectsdurchmusterung-objectsflamsteed-objectshenry-draper-catalogue-objectshipparcos-objectsstars-with-proper-names