The spectrum of this star shows triply ionized oxygen (O IV) that is being generated by X-rays and the Auger ionization effect. Observations with the ROSAT space telescope showed it has a higher energy (harder) X-ray spectrum than is usual for B0 V stars. Over the energy range 0.8–1.2 keV, its X-ray luminosity is Lx = 1.8 × 1031 erg s−1 with a large Lx to Lbol of log Lx/Lbol = –6.53 from ASCA measurements. ROSAT measurements showed a log Lx/Lbol ≃ –5.93 for the range 0.1–2.4 keV.[14] The hard component of the X-ray spectrum from τ Sco as studied with XMM-Newton supports the presence of in-falling clumps of plasma in τ Sco.[14]
This star is a proper motion member of the Upper Scorpius subgroup of the
Scorpius–CentaurusOB association,
the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun.[5][7]
The Upper Scorpius subgroup contains thousands of young stars with mean age 11 million years at average distance of 470 light years (145 parsecs)[7] A more recent analysis[7] of the HR diagram position for Tau Scorpii estimates its effective temperature to be 29,850 K with a luminosity of 20,400 L☉, consistent with an isochronal age of 5 million years and an estimated mass of 14.5–14.7 solar masses.
Tau Scorpii and Sigma Scorpii together bore the traditional name Al Niyat (or Alniyat) derived from the Arabic النياط al-niyāţ "the arteries" and referring to their position flanking the star Antares, the scorpion's heart, with Tau Scorpii being the star to the south.[16]
Paikauhale is the Hawaiian name for Tau Scorpii.[17][18] In the Hawaiian dictionary by Pukuʻi & Elbert (1986), the word paikauhale[ˈpəiˈkəuˈhale] is defined as to go gadding about from house to house. In another Hawaiian dictionary (H.W. Kent, 1993, "Treasury of Hawaiian Words in One Hundred and One Categories", p.367), paikauhale is defined as Vagabond owning no home; house-to-house wanderer.
In 2016, the IAU organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[19] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Paikauhale for the star A on 10 August 2018 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[20]
The name Alniyat was given to Sigma Scorpii.
Cultural signification
The indigenous Boorong people of northwestern Victoria saw this star (together with σ Sco) as wives of Djuit (Antares).[21]
In Chinese, 心宿 (Xīn Xiù), meaning Heart, refers to an asterism consisting of τ Scorpii, σ Scorpii and Antares.[22] Consequently, the Chinese name for τ Scorpii itself is 心宿三 (Xīn Xiù sān), "the Third Star of Heart".[23]
^Wielen, R.; et al. (1999), "Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part I. Basic fundamental stars with direct solutions", Veroeffentlichungen des Astronomischen Rechen-Instituts Heidelberg, 35 (35): 1, Bibcode:1999VeARI..35....1W
^ abde Geus, E. J.; de Zeeuw, P. T.; Lub, J. (June 1989), "Physical parameters of stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 216 (1–2): 44–61, Bibcode:1989A&A...216...44D
^ abKilian, J. (February 1994), "Chemical abundances in early B-type stars. 5: Metal abundances and LTE/NLTE comparison", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 282 (3): 867–873, Bibcode:1994A&A...282..867K
^6165, database entry, The Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Preliminary Version), D. Hoffleit and W. H. Warren, Jr., CDS ID [1]. Accessed on line February 8, 2013.
^"tau Sco -- Star", SIMBAD, Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2010-08-01
^"The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, December 21, 2004, archived from the original on 2013-12-03, retrieved 2012-01-16