The distance of this star from Earth is roughly 122 light-years (37 parsecs), based upon parallax measurements.

The stellar envelope is slightly cooler than the Sun with an effective temperature of 4,459 K, giving the star a light orange color.

[10] τ Sagittarii is a suspected double star although no companion has been confirmed yet.

A lower metal content (Fe to H ratio is 54% lower than the sun's) and a high peculiar velocity (64 km/s, four times the local average) relative to the Sun suggest the star is a visitor from a different part of the Galaxy.

[11] τ  Sagittarii is a red clump giant, a star with a similar mass to the sun which has exhausted its core hydrogen, passed through the red giant branch, and started helium fusion in its core.