Shaula

Shaula, also designated Lambda Scorpii, is a bright star near the tip of the tail of the southern constellation Scorpius. It is commonly paired with Lesath to outline the scorpion’s tail in stargazing and is a prominent feature of the southern sky.

In terms of brightness and type, Shaula is a hot blue-white star of high luminosity. It has an apparent magnitude around 1.6, placing it among the brighter stars in Scorpius. The star lies at a distance of several hundred light-years from Earth, making it well outside the solar neighborhood.

This position and color make Shaula a useful navigational reference for observers in the southern hemisphere. It is visible from southern latitudes and forms part of the distinctive pair that marks the tail of the Scorpius asterism, alongside Lesath.

Nomenclature and cultural notes: The name Shaula derives from Arabic al-shaʿla, meaning the tail of a scorpion; in astronomical catalogs it is listed as Lambda Scorpii. The pair Shaula and Lesath are often cited together as the two bright tail stars that help define the shape of Scorpius in the night sky.