The multiple star system called 8 Lacertae makes its home in Lacerta the lizard, a dim constellation of autumn and winter nights. Lacerta offers a rich collection of deep-sky objects for such a faint and obscure constellation, and 8 Lacertae is one of them.
In particular, 8 Lacertae is made out of multiple stars, with most observers seeing 2-4 of the stars, mostly white and blue. The famed astronomer William Herschel first recorded this pair on October 4, 1782.
My Observations
| Date | October 8, 2021 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. |
| Location | Seattle, WA |
| Magnification | 145x |
| Scope | Meade 8″ SCT |
| Eyepiece | 14mm |
| Seeing | Above Average |
| Transparency | Above Average |
I’m enjoying the pale blue color of the stars in 8 Lacertae. This “cluster” reminds me of Christmas lights lining a home with icicles on this chilly autumn night. There’s a steel blue feel to it all. Also, while weird as it sounds, the classic song “Crystal Blue Persuasion” lingers in my head. When in this area, I advise checking out 10 Lacertae and 12 Lacertae.
Also viewed on November 25, 2023, at 6:57 p.m.: I decided to update the drawing as tonight is crystal clear, and Lacerta sits nicely on top of the sky!
Key Stats
| Constellation | Lacerta |
| Best Viewing | Autumn |
| Visual Magnitude | +5.7 | +6.3 |
| Absolute Visual Magnitude | -3.4 |
| Distance from Earth | 2200 ly |
| Separation | 22.3″ | 14800 AU |
| Orbital Period | Unknown |
| Milky Way Location | Orion Spur |
| My Viewing Grade | B |
| Designations | 8 Lac, 8 Lacertae, Struve 2922, SAO 72509, STF 2922 |
Sources and Notes
Banner adapted from an illustration created by Pablo Budassi. The illustration is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Full details here.
Sketch by Wayne McGraw
Aka: 8 Lac, 8 Lacertae, Struve 2922, SAO 72509
The Garden Astronomer 
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