Notable stars
Meet 30 of the night sky’s brightest and most interesting stars. Every guide combines astronomical data, a real survey image, practical observing advice and links to its constellation and research sources.
Sirius
Alpha Canis Majoris (α CMa)
- Constellation
- Canis Major
- Distance
- 8.60 light-years
Canopus
Alpha Carinae (α Car)
- Constellation
- Carina
- Distance
- about 310 light-years
Arcturus
Alpha Boötis (α Boo)
- Constellation
- Boötes
- Distance
- 36.7 light-years
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri (α Cen; Rigil Kentaurus is component A)
- Constellation
- Centaurus
- Distance
- 4.37 light-years for A+B
Vega
Alpha Lyrae (α Lyr)
- Constellation
- Lyra
- Distance
- 25.0 light-years
Capella
Alpha Aurigae (α Aur)
- Constellation
- Auriga
- Distance
- 42.9 light-years
Rigel
Beta Orionis (β Ori)
- Constellation
- Orion
- Distance
- approximately 860 light-years
Procyon
Alpha Canis Minoris (α CMi)
- Constellation
- Canis Minor
- Distance
- 11.46 light-years
Betelgeuse
Alpha Orionis (α Ori)
- Constellation
- Orion
- Distance
- roughly 550–650 light-years
Achernar
Alpha Eridani (α Eri)
- Constellation
- Eridanus
- Distance
- about 139 light-years
Hadar
Beta Centauri (β Cen; name applies to component Aa)
- Constellation
- Centaurus
- Distance
- approximately 390 light-years
Altair
Alpha Aquilae (α Aql)
- Constellation
- Aquila
- Distance
- about 16.7 light-years
Acrux
Alpha Crucis (α Cru; name applies to component Aa)
- Constellation
- Crux
- Distance
- approximately 320 light-years
Aldebaran
Alpha Tauri (α Tau)
- Constellation
- Taurus
- Distance
- about 65 light-years
Antares
Alpha Scorpii (α Sco)
- Constellation
- Scorpius
- Distance
- about 550 light-years; model-dependent
Spica
Alpha Virginis (α Vir)
- Constellation
- Virgo
- Distance
- approximately 250 light-years
Pollux
Beta Geminorum (β Gem)
- Constellation
- Gemini
- Distance
- about 33.8 light-years
Fomalhaut
Alpha Piscis Austrini (α PsA)
- Constellation
- Piscis Austrinus
- Distance
- about 25.1 light-years
Deneb
Alpha Cygni (α Cyg)
- Constellation
- Cygnus
- Distance
- roughly 2,600 light-years; notably uncertain
Mimosa
Beta Crucis (β Cru; name applies to component Aa)
- Constellation
- Crux
- Distance
- approximately 280 light-years
Regulus
Alpha Leonis (α Leo)
- Constellation
- Leo
- Distance
- about 79 light-years
Adhara
Epsilon Canis Majoris (ε CMa)
- Constellation
- Canis Major
- Distance
- about 430 light-years
Castor
Alpha Geminorum (α Gem)
- Constellation
- Gemini
- Distance
- about 51 light-years
Gacrux
Gamma Crucis (γ Cru)
- Constellation
- Crux
- Distance
- about 89 light-years
Bellatrix
Gamma Orionis (γ Ori)
- Constellation
- Orion
- Distance
- about 250 light-years
Elnath
Beta Tauri (β Tau)
- Constellation
- Taurus
- Distance
- about 134 light-years
Miaplacidus
Beta Carinae (β Car)
- Constellation
- Carina
- Distance
- about 111 light-years
Alnilam
Epsilon Orionis (ε Ori)
- Constellation
- Orion
- Distance
- approximately 1,300–2,000 light-years
Alnair
Alpha Gruis (α Gru)
- Constellation
- Grus
- Distance
- about 101 light-years
Alioth
Epsilon Ursae Majoris (ε UMa)
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Distance
- about 83 light-years
What makes a star notable?
Brightness is only the beginning. This directory includes nearby stars, multiple systems, rapidly rotating stars, giants and supergiants, pulsating variables, stars with debris discs and familiar waypoints such as the Summer and Winter Triangles. A star may look bright because it is nearby, because it produces an extraordinary amount of energy, or because both are true.
The magnitude shown here is apparent visual magnitude: how bright the object appears from Earth in visible light. Lower values mean brighter objects, and negative values are brighter still. Distances are rounded because astronomical measurements and models continue to improve, particularly for remote supergiants and unresolved multiple systems.
How the guides were researched
Coordinates, classifications and object identities are checked against the CDS SIMBAD astronomical database. Proper-name usage follows the International Astronomical Union. Scientific discoveries and imagery are linked to the responsible observatory or agency on each guide. Survey thumbnails show the actual sky field around the listed coordinates rather than an invented illustration.