List of brightest stars
Encyclopedia
The apparent brightness of a star depends on both its inherent (absolute) luminosity
and its proximity to the observer. Below are listed the 91 brightest individual star
s in order of their apparent magnitude
s in the visible spectrum
as seen from Earth
. This is not the same as a list of the brightest stars as seen with the naked eye, as close binary or multiple star systems will appear as a single star with an apparent magnitude greater than their individual components, e.g. the binary system Alpha Centauri
has an apparent magnitude of -0.27, but the brightest individual star is Alpha Centauri A with the apparent magnitude as listed here of -0.01. Hence Alpha Centauri is the third brightest star in the night sky, whilst its brightest component Alpha Centauri A is the fourth brightest individual star. Stellar brightness in this selected table is limited to brighter than +2.50 magnitude, mostly as the available number of observable stars increases almost exponentially as the magnitude increases. To the naked eye on a clear dark night, the total number of stars visible is about 6,500. Stars visible through optical aid increase this even further. Telescopically, the entire night's sky has been mapped, photographed and catalogued almost completely down to 11th magnitude, and recent star surveys are continuing to catalogue much fainter stars.
For comparison, the non-stellar objects in our Solar System
with maximum visible magnitudes less than +2.50 are the Moon
(−12.92), Venus
(−4.67), Jupiter
(−2.94), Mars
(−2.91), Mercury
(−2.45), and Saturn
(−0.49).
An exact order of the visual brightness of stars is not perfectly defined for the following reasons:
Luminosity
Luminosity is a measurement of brightness.-In photometry and color imaging:In photometry, luminosity is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to luminance, which is the density of luminous intensity in a given direction. The SI unit for luminance is candela per square metre.The luminosity function...
and its proximity to the observer. Below are listed the 91 brightest individual star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s in order of their apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
s in the visible spectrum
Visible spectrum
The visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is called visible light or simply light. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 390 to 750 nm. In terms of...
as seen from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. This is not the same as a list of the brightest stars as seen with the naked eye, as close binary or multiple star systems will appear as a single star with an apparent magnitude greater than their individual components, e.g. the binary system Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus...
has an apparent magnitude of -0.27, but the brightest individual star is Alpha Centauri A with the apparent magnitude as listed here of -0.01. Hence Alpha Centauri is the third brightest star in the night sky, whilst its brightest component Alpha Centauri A is the fourth brightest individual star. Stellar brightness in this selected table is limited to brighter than +2.50 magnitude, mostly as the available number of observable stars increases almost exponentially as the magnitude increases. To the naked eye on a clear dark night, the total number of stars visible is about 6,500. Stars visible through optical aid increase this even further. Telescopically, the entire night's sky has been mapped, photographed and catalogued almost completely down to 11th magnitude, and recent star surveys are continuing to catalogue much fainter stars.
For comparison, the non-stellar objects in our Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
with maximum visible magnitudes less than +2.50 are the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
(−12.92), Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
(−4.67), Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
(−2.94), Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
(−2.91), Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
(−2.45), and Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
(−0.49).
An exact order of the visual brightness of stars is not perfectly defined for the following reasons:
- The brightnesses of all stars were traditionally based on the apparent visual magnitudeApparent magnitudeThe apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
as perceived by the human eye, from the brightest stars of 1st magnitude to the faintest at 6th magnitude. - The invention of the telescope and the discovery of double or binary stars meant that star brightness could be individual (separate) or total (combined).
- More and more accurate instrumental photometryPhotometry (astronomy)Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
differentiated stellar magnitudes, often changing the order of lists of brighter stars. - Stellar magnitude is sometimes listed by the apparent brightness of stars as seen to the naked eye as if they were single stars, for example Norton's Star AtlasNorton's Star AtlasNorton's Star Atlas is a set of 16 celestial charts, first published in 1910 and currently in its 20th edition under the editorship of Ian Ridpath. The Star Atlas covers the entire northern and southern sky, with accompanying reference information for amateur astronomers...
18th Edition pg. 136. - Other stellar magnitude lists (like this one) report individual stars, differentiating those in binary stars or double starDouble starIn observational astronomy, a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth when viewed through an optical telescope. This can happen either because the pair forms a binary star, i.e...
systems. Often, the differences apply to the ten or hundred brightest stars. For example, the total or combined magnitude of: −0.27 for Alpha CentauriAlpha CentauriAlpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus...
as 3rd, +0.08 for CapellaCapella (star)Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in...
as 6th, and +0.77 for Acrux as 13th. - A third kind includes the Sun as first in the magnitude listings, making SiriusSiriusSirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
as 2nd, Canopus as 3rd, etc. Some, like this list, place the Sun at zero, as it is not a nighttime star. - There are sometimes small statistical variations in measured magnitudes; however, for most of the brightest stars, accurate photometryPhotometryPhotometry can refer to:* Photometry , the science of measurement of visible light in terms of its perceived brightness to human vision...
means brightness stays unchanged. These particular stars are some times called standard starsPhotometric standard starsPhotometric-standard stars are a series of stars that have had their light output in various passbands of photometric system, measured very carefully...
, which appear in the Catalogues of Fundamental Stars like the FK4, FK5 or FK6. - Some stars, like BetelgeuseBetelgeuseBetelgeuse, also known by its Bayer designation Alpha Orionis , is the eighth brightest star in the night sky and second brightest star in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel only rarely...
and AntaresAntaresAntares is a red supergiant star in the Milky Way galaxy and the sixteenth brightest star in the nighttime sky . Along with Aldebaran, Spica, and Regulus it is one of the four brightest stars near the ecliptic...
, are variable starVariable starA star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
s, changing their magnitude over days, months or years. (In the Table, these are indicated with var.)
| V Mag. Apparent magnitude The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere... (m) |
Bayer designation Bayer designation A Bayer designation is a stellar designation in which a specific star is identified by a Greek letter, followed by the genitive form of its parent constellation's Latin name... |
Proper name | Distance (ly) | Spectral class | SIMBAD SIMBAD SIMBAD is an astronomical database of objects beyond the Solar System... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | −26.74 | (Sun Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields... ) |
0.000 016 | G2 V | ||
| 1 | −1.46 | α CMa | Sirius Sirius Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris... |
8.6 | A1 V | Sirius A |
| 2 | −0.72 | α Car | Canopus Canopus Canopus |Alpha]] Carinae) is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and Argo Navis, and the second brightest star in the night-time sky, after Sirius. Canopus's visual magnitude is −0.72, and it has an absolute magnitude of −5.53.Canopus is a supergiant of spectral... |
310 | F0 Ia | Canopus |
| 3 | −0.04 var | α Boo | Arcturus | 37 | K1.5 III | Arcturus |
| 4 | −0.01 | α Cen A (α1 Cen) Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus... |
Rigil Kentaurus, Toliman Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus... |
4.4 | G2 V | Alpha Centauri A |
| 5 | 0.03 | α Lyr | Vega Vega Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus... |
25 | A0 V | Vega |
| 6 | 0.12 | β Ori | Rigel Rigel Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the sixth brightest star in the sky, with visual magnitude 0.18... |
770 | B8 Iab | Rigel |
| 7 | 0.34 | α CMi | Procyon Procyon Procyon is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor. To the naked eye, it appears to be a single star, the seventh brightest in the night sky with a visual apparent magnitude of 0.34... |
11 | F5 IV-V | Procyon |
| 8 | 0.42 var | α Ori | Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, also known by its Bayer designation Alpha Orionis , is the eighth brightest star in the night sky and second brightest star in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel only rarely... |
640 | M2 Iab | Betelgeuse |
| 9 | 0.50 | α Eri | Achernar Achernar Achernar , sometimes spelled Achenar, is the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus and the ninth-brightest star in the night sky. Of the top ten apparent brightest stars —Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri, Arcturus, Vega, Capella, Rigel, Procyon, Achernar and Betelgeuse—Achernar is the hottest... |
140 | B3 Vpe | Achernar |
| 10 | 0.60 | β Cen Beta Centauri Beta Centauri , also known as Hadar or Agena, is the second brightest star in the constellation Centaurus and the tenth brightest star in the night sky. Beta Centauri is a B1 III blue-white giant star that the astrometric Hipparcos satellite calculates as about 161 parsecs or 525 light-years from... |
Hadar, Agena | 530 | B1 III | Hadar (Agena) |
| 11 | 0.71 | α1 Aur | Capella Capella (star) Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in... A |
42 | G8 III | Capella A |
| 12 | 0.77 | α Aql | Altair | 17 | A7 V | Altair |
| 13 | 0.85 var | α Tau | Aldebaran Aldebaran Aldebaran is a red giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky... |
65 | K5 III | Aldebaran |
| 14 | 0.96 | α2 Aur | Capella Capella (star) Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in... B |
42 | G1 III | Capella B |
| 15 | 1.04 | α Vir | Spica Spica Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth... |
260 | B1 III-IV, B2 V | Spica |
| 16 | 1.09 var | α Sco | Antares Antares Antares is a red supergiant star in the Milky Way galaxy and the sixteenth brightest star in the nighttime sky . Along with Aldebaran, Spica, and Regulus it is one of the four brightest stars near the ecliptic... |
600 | M1.5 Iab-b | Antares |
| 17 | 1.15 | β Gem | Pollux Pollux (star) Pollux is an orange giant star approximately 34 light-years from the Earth in the constellation of Gemini . Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation, brighter than Castor... |
34 | K0 IIIb | Pollux |
| 18 | 1.16 | α PsA | Fomalhaut Fomalhaut Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and one of the brightest stars in the sky. Fomalhaut can be seen low in the southern sky in the northern hemisphere in fall and early winter evenings. Near latitude 50˚N, it sets around the time Sirius rises, and does not... |
25 | A3 V | Fomalhaut |
| 19 | 1.25 | α Cyg | Deneb Deneb Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus and one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle. It is the 19th brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 1.25. A blue-white supergiant, Deneb is also one of the most luminous nearby stars... |
1,550 | A2 Ia | Deneb |
| 20 | 1.30 | β Cru Beta Crucis Mimosa or Becrux is the second brightest star in the constellation Crux and is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.... |
Mimosa, Becrux | 350 | B0.5 IV | Mimosa |
| 21 | 1.33 | α Cen Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus... B (α2 Cen) |
Rigil Kentaurus, Toliman | 4.4 | K1 V | Alpha Centauri B |
| 22 | 1.35 | α Leo | Regulus Regulus Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, lying approximately 77.5 light years from Earth. Regulus is a multiple star system composed of four stars which are organized into two pairs... |
77 | B7 V | Regulus |
| 23 | 1.40 | α Cru Alpha Crucis Acrux is the brightest star in the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross, and, at a combined visual magnitude 0.77, is the twelfth brightest star in the night sky... A (α1 Cru) |
Acrux | 320 | B1 V | Acrux A |
| 24 | 1.51 | ε CMa Epsilon Canis Majoris Epsilon Canis Majoris is the second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It has the Bayer designation "epsilon" despite being the second brightest and not the fifth brightest star in its constellation. It has the traditional name Adhara... |
Adara | 430 | B2 Iab | Adara |
| 25 | 1.62 | λ Sco Lambda Scorpii Lambda Scorpii is the second brightest star system in the constellation Scorpius, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. It has the Bayer designation λ despite being the second brightest in its constellation... |
Shaula | 700 | B1.5-2 IV+ | Shaula |
| 26 | 1.63 | γ Cru Gamma Crucis Gamma Crucis , often called Gacrux, is a red giant star approximately 88 light-years away in the constellation of Crux. Among Portuguese-speaking peoples it is also named "Rubídea" , in reference to its color. The star is the third-brightest star in Crux and one of the brightest stars in the... |
Gacrux | 88 | M4III | Gacrux |
| 27 | 1.64 | γ Ori Gamma Orionis Bellatrix, also known by its Bayer designation Gamma Orionis , is the third brightest star in the constellation Orion, the twenty-seventh brightest star in the night sky, and one of the brightest second-magnitude stars.... |
Bellatrix | 240 | B2 III | Bellatrix |
| 28 | 1.68 | β Tau Beta Tauri Beta Tauri is the second brightest star in the constellation Taurus, with an apparent magnitude of 1.68. Because it is on the boundary of Taurus and Auriga, it also has the redundant Bayer designation Gamma Aurigae , which today is rarely used... |
El Nath | 130 | B7 III | El Nath |
| 29 | 1.68 | β Car Beta Carinae Beta Carinae is the second brightest star in the constellation Carina and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, with apparent magnitude 1.68. It is the brightest star in the south polar asterism known as the Diamond Cross, marking the southwestern end of the asterism. Beta Carinae also has... |
Miaplacidus | 110 | A2 IV | Miaplacidus |
| 30 | 1.70 | ε Ori Epsilon Orionis Alnilam is a large blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. Its Flamsteed designation is 46 Orionis.... |
Alnilam | 1,300 | B0 Iab | Alnilam |
| 31 | 1.70 | ζ Ori A | Alnitak | 820 | O9 Iab | Alnitak A |
| 32 | 1.74 | α Gru Alpha Gruis Alpha Gruis is the brightest star in the constellation Grus.Alpha Gruis has a proper name Alnair or Al Nair , came from the Arabic al-nayyir [an-nai:r], meaning "the bright one"... |
Alnair | 100 | B7 IV | Al Na'ir |
| 33 | 1.76 | ε UMa Epsilon Ursae Majoris Epsilon Ursae Majoris is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major , and at magnitude 1.76 is the thirty-first brightest star in the sky... |
Alioth | 81 | A0pCr | Alioth |
| 34 | 1.78 | γ2 Vel Gamma Velorum Gamma Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela. At magnitude +1.7, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It has the traditional names Suhail and Suhail al Muhlif, which confusingly also apply to Lambda Velorum... |
Suhail | 840 | Gamma2 Velorum | |
| 35 | 1.80 | ε Sgr Epsilon Sagittarii Epsilon Sagittarii is a binary star that lies 144.64 light-years distant in the constellation Sagittarius. It has a faint, 14th magnitude, companion, Epsilon Sagittarii B, 32 arcseconds distant.... |
Kaus Australis | 140 | B9.5 III | Kaus Australis |
| 36 | 1.82 | α Per Alpha Persei Alpha Persei is the brightest star in the constellation of Perseus, just outshining the constellation's best known star Algol. It also bears the traditional names Mirfak and Algenib... |
Mirfak | 590 | F5 Ib | Mirfak |
| 37 | 1.84 | δ CMa Delta Canis Majoris Delta Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It has the traditional name Wezen or Wesen... |
Wezen | 1,800 | F8 Ia | Wezen |
| 38 | 1.85 | η UMa Eta Ursae Majoris Eta Ursae Majoris is a star in the constellation Ursa Major. It has the traditional names Alkaid and Benetnash .... |
Benetnasch, Alkaid | 100 | B3 V | Benetnasch (Alkaid) |
| 39 | 1.86 | θ Sco Theta Scorpii Theta Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Sargas, of Sumerian origin.... |
Sargas | 270 | F1 II | Sargas |
| 40 | 1.87 | α UMa A | Dubhe | 120 | K0 III | Dubhe |
| 41 | 1.90 | γ Gem Gamma Geminorum Gamma Geminorum is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional names Alhena and Almeisan.... |
Alhena | 100 | A0 IV | Alhena |
| 42 | 1.91 | α Pav Alpha Pavonis Alpha Pavonis is a star in the constellation Pavo. It is also known by the name Peacock, which was assigned by Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office in the late 1930s during the creation of the Air Almanac, a navigational almanac for the Royal Air Force... |
Peacock | 180 | B2 IV | Peacock |
| 43 | 1.92 | α TrA Alpha Trianguli Australis Alpha Trianguli Australis is a star in the constellation Triangulum Australe.... |
Atria | 420 | K2 IIb-IIIa | Atria |
| 44 | 1.96 | α Gem A | Castor Castor (star) Castor is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Although it has the Bayer designation "alpha", it is actually fainter than Beta Geminorum... A |
52 | A1 V, A2 Vm | Castor A |
| 45 | 1.97 var | α UMi | Polaris Polaris Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star.... |
430 | F7 Ib-II | Polaris |
| 46 | 1.98 | β CMa Beta Canis Majoris Beta Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation of Canis Major. It has the traditional name Murzim, Al-Murzim or Mirzam.... |
Mirzam | 500 | B1 II-III | Murzim |
| 47 | 1.98 | α Hya | Alphard Alphard Alphard is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The name Alphard is from the Arabic الفرد , "the solitary one", there being no other bright stars near it. It was also known as the "backbone of the Serpent" to the Arabs. In ancient China it formed part of an asterism called the "red bird"... |
180 | K3 II-III | Alphard |
| 48 | 2.00 | α Ari | Hamal | 66 | K2IIICa-1 | Hamal |
| 49 | 2.03 | δ Vel Delta Velorum Delta Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela. It is approximately 79.7 light years from Earth. It is sometimes given the name Koo She, Chinese for 'Bow and Arrows', along with ω Velorum and stars in Canis Major.... A |
Koo She | 80 | A1 V | Delta Velorum |
| 50 | 2.04 | β Cet Beta Ceti Beta Ceti is the brightest star in the constellation Cetus. Although it has the Bayer designation "beta", it is actually brighter than Alpha Ceti. It has the traditional names Deneb Kaitos and Diphda... |
Deneb Kaitos, Diphda | 96 | K0 III | Deneb Kaitos |
| 51 | 2.05 | κ Ori Kappa Orionis Kappa Orionis is the sixth-brightest star in the constellation of Orion. It has the traditional name Saiph.Of the four bright stars that compose Orion's main quadrangle, it is the star at the south-eastern corner... |
Saiph | 720 | B0.5Iavar | Saiph |
| 52 | 2.06 | σ Sgr Sigma Sagittarii Sigma Sagittarii is the second brightest star system in the constellation Sagittarius.Its modern name Nunki is an Assyrian or Babylonian name recovered by archaeologists and made public by R.H.Allen.... |
Nunki, Sadira | 220 | B2.5 V | Nunki |
| 53 | 2.06 | θ Cen Theta Centauri Theta Centauri is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It is also has the traditional Arabic name Menkent... |
Menkent | 61 | K0IIIb | Menkent |
| 54 | 2.06 | α And Alpha Andromedae Alpha Andromedae , which has the traditional names Alpheratz and Sirrah , is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. Located immediately northeast of the constellation of Pegasus, it is the northeastern star of the Great Square of Pegasus... |
Alpheratz, Sirrah | 97 | B8IV | Alpheratz |
| 55 | 2.06 | β And Beta Andromedae Beta Andromedae is a red giant star in the constellation of Andromeda. It has the traditional name Mirach . It has spectral class M0, and is approximately 200 light years away... |
Mirach | 200 | M0III | Mirach |
| 56 | 2.08 | β UMi Beta Ursae Minoris Beta Ursae Minoris is the second brightest star in the bowl of the "Little Dipper,"the constellation Ursa Minor. It has the traditional name Kochab. Kochab's magnitude is 2.07. It is 16 degrees from Polaris. The star is an orange giant and is 126.4 ± 2.5 light years from Earth. It is 130 times... |
Kochab | 130 | K4 III | Kochab |
| 57 | 2.09 | α2 Cru | Acrux | 320 | Acrux B | |
| 58 | 2.10 | α Oph Alpha Ophiuchi Alpha Ophiuchi is the brightest star in the constellation Ophiuchus. It has the traditional name Ras Alhague, often condensed to Rasalhague.... |
Rasalhague | 47 | A5V | Ras Alhague |
| 59 | 2.12 var | β Per | Algol A | 93 | B8V | Algol |
| 60 | 2.13 | β Gru Beta Gruis Beta Gruis is the second brighest star in the southern constellation of Grus. It was once considered the rear star in the tail of the constellation of the Fish: it, with α, δ, θ... |
Gruid | 170 | M5 III | Beta Gruis |
| 61 | 2.14 | β Leo | Denebola Denebola Denebola is the second brightest star in the constellation Leo. It is an A-class star that is about distant from earth, and has a luminosity about twelve times that of the sun. Its apparent magnitude is 2.14... |
36 | A3 V | Denebola |
| 62 | 2.21 | ζ Pup Zeta Puppis Zeta Puppis is a star in the constellation of Puppis. It is also known by the traditional names Naos and Suhail Hadar in Arabic.... |
Naos | 1,400 | O5 Ia | Zeta Puppis |
| 63 | 2.23 | λ Vel Lambda Velorum Lambda Velorum is a star in the constellation Vela. It has the traditional name Suhail .Lambda Velorum is a supergiant or bright giant star of spectral class K5... |
Suhail | 570 | K4.5 Ib-II | Lambda Velorum |
| 64 | 2.23 | γ Dra | Eltanin | 150 | K5 III | Etamin |
| 65 | 2.24 | α CrB A | Alphecca, Gemma | 75 | A0V | Alphecca |
| 66 | 2.24 | γ Cyg Gamma Cygni Gamma Cygni is a star in the constellation Cygnus. It has the traditional name Sadr .... |
Sadr | 1,500 | F8 Ib | Sadr |
| 67 | 2.25 | α Cas Alpha Cassiopeiae Alpha Cassiopeiae is a second magnitude star in the constellation Cassiopeia, with the traditional name Schedar, sometimes spelt Shedir. Though listed as the alpha star by Johann Bayer, Schedar's visual brightness closely rivals the beta star in the constellation, Caph... |
Schedar | 230 | K0 IIIa | Schedar |
| 68 | 2.25 | ι Car Iota Carinae Iota Carinae is a star in the constellation Carina. It is one of the brighter stars in the night sky.It has the traditional names Aspidiske, Scutulum and Turais... |
Aspidiske | 690 | A8 Ib | Aspidiske |
| 69 | 2.26 | γ1 And Gamma Andromedae Gamma Andromedae is the third brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. It is also known by the traditional name Almach , from the Arabic العناق الأرض al-‘anāq al-’arđ̧ "the caracal" .Another term for this star used by medieval astronomers... |
Almach | 350 | K3IIb | Almach |
| 70 | 2.27 | ζ1 UMa | Mizar Mizar (star) The Mizar–Alcor stellar sextuple system consists of the quadruple system Mizar and the binary system Alcor.- Description :Mizar is a quadruple system of two binary stars in the constellation Ursa Major and is the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle. Its apparent magnitude is 2.23... A |
78 | A2 V | Mizar A |
| 71 | 2.27 | β Cas Beta Cassiopeiae Beta Cassiopeiae is a Delta Scuti variable star in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is a subgiant or giant star belonging to the spectral class F2, with a mean apparent magnitude of +2.27 and absolute magnitude of +1.16... |
Caph | 54 | F2 III-IV | Caph |
| 72 | 2.27 | ε Cen Epsilon Centauri Epsilon Centauri is a star in the constellation Centaurus.In Chinese, , meaning Southern Gate, refers to an asterism consisting of ε Centauri and α Centauri. Consequently, ε Centauri itself is known as... |
Birdun | 380 | B1III | Epsilon Centauri |
| 73 | 2.28 | γ1 Leo Gamma Leonis Gamma Leonis is a binary star system in the constellation Leo. It has the traditional name Algieba or Al Gieba.-Name origin and history:... |
Algieba | 130 | K0 IIIb | Algieba |
| 74 | 2.28 | α Lup Alpha Lupi Alpha Lupi is the brightest star in the constellation Lupus.In Chinese, , meaning Imperial Guards, refers to an asterism consisting of α Lupi, γ Lupi, δ Lupi, κ Centauri, β Lupi, λ Lupi, ε Lupi, μ Lup, π Lupi and ο Lupi . Consequently, α Lupi itself is known as .R. H... |
Men, Kakkab | 550 | B1.5 II | Alpha Lupi |
| 75 | 2.29 | δ Sco Delta Scorpii Delta Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Dschubba Delta Scorpii (δ Sco, δ Scorpii) is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Dschubba Delta Scorpii (δ Sco, δ Scorpii) is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the... |
Dschubba | 400 | B0.2 IV | Dschubba |
| 76 | 2.29 | ε Sco Epsilon Scorpii Epsilon Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. Patrick Moore introduced the name Wei but this seems to be a misreading; Wěi , meaning the Tail, was originally the name of a Chinese asterism or Xiù comprising the stars ε, μ1-2, ζ1-2, η, θ, ι, κ,... |
Wei | 65 | K2 IIIb | Wei |
| 77 | 2.32 | η Cen | Marfikent | 310 | B1.5Vne | Eta Centauri |
| 78 | 2.35 | β UMa Beta Ursae Majoris Beta Ursae Majoris is a star in the constellation of Ursa Major. It has the traditional name Merak.It is more familiar to northern hemisphere observers as one of the "pointer stars" in the Big Dipper, and a straight line connecting it with nearby Alpha Ursae Majoris extends to Polaris, the north... |
Merak | 79 | A1V | Merak |
| 79 | 2.37 | α Phe Alpha Phoenicis Alpha Phoenicis is the brightest star in the constellation Phoenix. It has the traditional name Ankaa, from the Arabic العنقاء al-‘anqā’ "the phoenix"... |
Ankaa, Nair al Zaurak | 77 | K0 III | Ankaa |
| 80 | 2.38 | κ Sco Kappa Scorpii Kappa Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Girtab, which is the Sumerian word for 'scorpion' and has survived through the Babylonian star catalogues.... |
Girtab | 460 | B1.5 III | Girtab |
| 81 | 2.39 | γ Cas Gamma Cassiopeiae Gamma Cassiopeiae is an eruptive variable star, whose brightness changes irregularly between +2.20 mag and +3.40 mag. It is the prototype of the Gamma Cassiopeiae variable stars. Although it is a fairly bright star, it has no traditional Arabic or Latin name... |
Tsih, Navi | 610 | B0.5 IVe | Gamma Cassiopeiae |
| 82 | 2.40 | ε Peg | Enif | 670 | K2 Ib | Enif |
| 83 | 2.40 | η CMa Eta Canis Majoris Eta Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It has the traditional name Aludra.The name Aludra originates from the Arabic: عذرا al-‘aðrā "the virgin"... |
Aludra Eta Canis Majoris Eta Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It has the traditional name Aludra.The name Aludra originates from the Arabic: عذرا al-‘aðrā "the virgin"... |
3,200 | B5 Ia | Aludra |
| 84 | 2.4 | ε Car Epsilon Carinae Epsilon Carinae is a star in the constellation Carina. At apparent magnitude +1.86 it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, but is not visible from the northern hemisphere.... A |
Avior | 630 | K3 III | Avior |
| 85 | 2.42 | β Peg Beta Pegasi Beta Pegasi is a star in the constellation Pegasus. Its traditional name is Scheat, a name that has also been used for Delta Aquarii.... |
Scheat | 200 | M2.3 II-III | Scheat |
| 86 | 2.43 | γ UMa Gamma Ursae Majoris Gamma Ursae Majoris is a star in the constellation Ursa Major. It has the traditional name Phad, or Phecda, from the Arabic phrase فخذ الدب "fakhð ad-dubb" .... |
Phecda | 84 | A0Ve SB | Phecda |
| 87 | 2.44 | α Cep Alpha Cephei Alpha Cephei is a second magnitude star in the constellation of Cepheus that is relatively close to Earth at only 49 light years... |
Alderamin | 49 | A7 IV | Alderamin |
| 88 | 2.46 | κ Vel Kappa Velorum Kappa Velorum is a binary star in the constellation Vela. It also has the traditional name Markab, often spelled Markeb to distinguish it from similarly named stars such as Alpha Pegasi.... |
Markeb | 540 | B2 IV-V | Kappa Velorum |
| 89 | 2.49 | α Peg Alpha Pegasi Alpha Pegasi is the third brightest star in the constellation Pegasus and one of the four stars in the asterism known as the Great Square of Pegasus. It has the traditional name Markab .Markab is a relatively average star nearing the end of its stellar evolution on the main sequence... |
Markab | 140 | B9 III | Markab |
| 90 | 2.50 | ε Cyg Epsilon Cygni Epsilon Cygni is a star in the constellation Cygnus . It is also called Gienah, a traditional name it shares with Gamma Corvi... |
Gienah | 72 | K0 II | Gienah |
See also
- Lists of stars
- List of nearest stars
- List of nearest bright stars
- List of most luminous stars
- List of largest stars
- Historical brightest starsHistorical brightest starsThe Solar System and all of the visible stars are in different orbits about the core of the Milky Way galaxy. Thus, their relative positions change over time, and for the nearer stars this movement can be measured. As a star moves toward or away from us, its apparent brightness changes. Sirius...
: the brightest star in Earth's night sky at each period within the last or next 5 million years - List of constellations
- Lists of stars by constellation
- List of constellations by area
- List of nearest galaxies