Eta Ophiuchi
star in the constellation Ophiuchus
Eta Ophiuchi is a binary star in the constellation of Ophiuchus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from η Ophiuchi, and abbreviated Eta Oph or η Oph. With a combined apparent magnitude of +2.43, it is the second-brightest of the constellation and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Based on parallax measurements taken during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 88 light-years away.
The components of this system are designated Eta Ophiuchi A (also called Sabik ), and Eta Ophiuchi B.
Nomenclature
η Ophiuchi (Latinised to Eta Ophiuchi) is the system's Bayer designation. WDS J17104-1544AB is its designation in the Washington Double Star Catalog. The designations of the two components as WDS J17104-1544 A and B derive from the convention used by the Washington Multiplicity Catalog (WMC) for multiple star systems, and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
It bore the traditional name Sabik, from the Arabic السابق al-sābiq "the preceding one", of uncertain reference. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Sabik for the component WDS J17104-1544 A on 21 August 2016 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.
The public source identifies “Eta Ophiuchi” as star in the constellation Ophiuchus. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Ophiuchi, star and constellation.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Eta Ophiuchi”, the useful work is to connect “star in the constellation Ophiuchus” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 15, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q670536. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1544 and 2016.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Eta Ophiuchi”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Eta Ophiuchi primary sources, Eta Ophiuchi archive and Ophiuchi research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Eta Ophiuchi”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Eta Ophiuchi” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.