Sagitta

The Arrow

A tiny but unmistakable arrow of stars in the Milky Way, one of the smallest constellations in the sky.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Summer
Best months: June through October, high in the south on summer evenings
Visibility: Visible from everywhere in the United States
Abbreviation: Sge

How to find it

Look inside the southern part of the Summer Triangle for a small arrow of faint stars.
Vulpecula and a rich stretch of Milky Way lie just to the north.

Brightest stars

Gamma Sagittae (the arrow's tip)
Delta Sagittae

What to look for

The arrow shape, small but clear on a dark night.

Binocular and telescope targets

M71: a globular cluster visible in binoculars as a fuzzy patch

Using it to find other things

Sagitta lies inside the Summer Triangle, close to Altair.

About this constellation

Sagitta is one of the three smallest constellations, but its arrow shape is clear enough to find without a chart once you know where to look.

Look for it in the part of the Summer Triangle nearest Altair.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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