60 Sagittarii
Encyclopedia
60 Sagittarii (60 Sgr), or A Sagittarii (A Sgr), is a G-type giant
star
in the constellation
of Sagittarius
. It is approximately 340 light-years from the Earth. It is the northwest corner of the asterism
called the Terebellum
and, with an apparent magnitude
of approximately 4.851, it is the dimmest of the four stars in the Terebellum.
Giant star
A giant star is a star with substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main sequence star of the same surface temperature. Typically, giant stars have radii between 10 and 100 solar radii and luminosities between 10 and 1,000 times that of the Sun. Stars still more luminous than giants are...
star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Sagittarius
Sagittarius (constellation)
Sagittarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow...
. It is approximately 340 light-years from the Earth. It is the northwest corner of the asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
called the Terebellum
Terebellum (astronomy)
The Terebellum, by Ptolemy called τετράπλευρον , is a quadrilateral of stars in the constellation Sagittarius. It is formed of four 4th magnitude stars, all within two degrees of each other:* Omega Sagittarii, at the northeast corner....
and, with an apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
of approximately 4.851, it is the dimmest of the four stars in the Terebellum.