The apparent visual magnitude of Tau Scorpii is +2.8,[2] while parallax measurements yield a distance estimate of roughly 470 light-years (150 parsecs) from Earth.

[3] It is radiating about 20,400[7] times the Sun's luminosity from its outer envelope at an effective temperature of 31,440 K.[9] This gives it the blue-white hue characteristic of B-type stars.

[10] 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.

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.