List of brightest stars

This is a list of stars down to magnitude +2.50, as determined by their maximum, total, or combined visual magnitudes as viewed from Earth. Although several of the brightest stars are known binary or multiple star systems and are relatively close to Earth, they appear to the naked eye as single stars. The list below combines/adds the magnitudes of bright individual components. Most of the proper names in this list are those approved by the Working Group on Star Names.[1] Popular star names here that have not been approved by the IAU appear with a short note.

This article is about the visual brightness of stars in the Earth's sky (apparent magnitude). For the absolute luminosity of stars, see List of most luminous stars.

Measurement

The Sun is the brightest star as viewed from Earth. The apparent visual magnitudes of the brightest stars can also be compared to non-stellar objects in our Solar System. Here the maximum visible magnitudes above the second brightest star, Sirius (−1.46), are as follows. Excluding the Sun, the brightest objects are the Moon (−12.7), Venus (−4.89), Jupiter (−2.94), Mars (−2.91), Mercury (−2.45), and Saturn (−0.49).

Any exact order of the visual brightness of stars is not perfectly defined for four reasons:

• Stellar brightness is traditionally based on the apparent visual magnitude as perceived by the human eye, from the brightest stars of 1st magnitude to the faintest at 6th magnitude. Since the invention of the optical telescope and the documenting of binary stars and multiple star systems, stellar brightness could be expressed as either individual (separate) or total (combined) magnitude. The table is ordered by combined magnitude of all naked eye components appearing as if it they were single stars. Such multiple star systems are indicated by parentheses showing the individual magnitudes of component stars bright enough to make a detectable contribution. For example, the double star Alpha Centauri has the total or combined magnitude of −0.27, while its two component stars have magnitudes of +0.01 and +1.33.[2]
• New or more accurate photometry, standard filters, or adopting differing methods using standard stars can measure stellar magnitudes slightly differently. This may change the apparent order of lists of bright stars. The table shows measured V magnitudes, which use a specific filter that closely approximates human vision. However, other kinds of magnitude systems do exist based on different wavelengths, some well away from the distribution of the visible wavelengths of light, and these apparent magnitudes vary dramatically in the different systems.[3] For example, Betelgeuse has the K-band (infrared) apparent magnitude of −4.05.[4]
• Some stars, like Betelgeuse and Antares, are variable stars, changing their magnitude over days, months or years. In the table, the range of variation is indicated with var. Single magnitude values quoted for variable stars come from a variety of sources. Magnitudes are expressed within the table are when the stars are either at maximum brightness, which is repeated for every cycle, e.g., the eclipsing binary Algol; or, if the variations are small, as a simple average magnitude. For all red variable stars, describing a single maximum brightness is often difficult because each cycle produces a different maximum brightness, which is thought to be caused by poorly understood pulsations in stellar evolution processes. Such quoted stellar brightness is sometimes based on the average maximum apparent magnitude [5] from estimated maximums over many observed light-curve cycles, sometimes spanning across centuries. Results often quoted in the literature are not necessarily straightforward and may differ in expressing an alternate value for a singular maximum brightness or as a range of values.
• A select number of stars, thought to be uniformly fixed in brightness, are used as standard stars. These standard stars have carefully determined magnitudes that have been analysed over many years, and are often used to determine other stars' magnitudes or their stellar parameters using comparatively consistent scales.[6]

Main table

The source of magnitudes cited in this list is the linked Wikipedia articles—this basic list is a catalog of what Wikipedia itself documents. References can be found in the individual articles.

Rank	Visual magnitude (mV)	Proper name[1]	Bayer desig. part 1	part 2	Distance (ly)	Spectral class
1	0.000−26.74	Sun			0.000015813	G2 V
2	0.001−1.46	Sirius	α	CMa	0008.6	A0mA1 Va, DA2
3	0.003−0.74	Canopus	α	Car	0310	A9 II
4	0.004−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33)	Rigil Kentaurus & Toliman	α	Cen	0004.4	G2 V, K1 V
5	0.005−0.05	Arcturus	α	Boo	0037	K0 III
6	0.03 (−0.02–0.07var)	Vega	α	Lyr	0025	A0 Va
7	0.08 (0.03–0.16var)	Capella	α	Aur	0043	K0 III, G1 III
8	0.13 (0.05–0.18var)	Rigel	β	Ori	0860	B8 Ia
9	0.34	Procyon	α	CMi	0011	F5 IV-V
10	0.46 (0.40–0.46var)	Achernar	α	Eri	0139	B6 Vep
11	0.50 (0.2–1.2var)	Betelgeuse	α	Ori	0700	M1-M2 Ia-ab
12	0.61	Hadar	β	Cen	0390	B1 III
13	0.76	Altair	α	Aql	0017	A7 V
14	0.76 (1.33 + 1.73)	Acrux	α	Cru	0320	B0.5 IV, B1 V
15	0.86 (0.75–0.95var)	Aldebaran	α	Tau	0065	K5 III
16	0.96 (0.6–1.6var)	Antares	α	Sco	0550	M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V
17	0.97 (0.97–1.04var)	Spica	α	Vir	0250	B1 III-IV, B2 V
18	1.14	Pollux	β	Gem	0034	K0 III
19	1.16	Fomalhaut	α	PsA	0025	A3 V
20	1.25 (1.21–1.29var)	Deneb	α	Cyg	2,615	A2 Ia
21	1.25 (1.23–1.31var)	Mimosa	β	Cru	0280	B0.5 III, B2 V
22	1.39	Regulus	α	Leo	0079	B8 IVn
23	1.50	Adhara	ε	CMa	0430	B2 II
24	1.62	Shaula	λ	Sco	0570	B2 IV
25	1.62 (1.98 + 2.97)	Castor	α	Gem	0052	A1 V, Am
26	1.64	Gacrux	γ	Cru	0088	M3.5 III
27	1.64	Bellatrix	γ	Ori	0240	B2 III
28	1.65	Elnath	β	Tau	0130	B7 III
29	1.69	Miaplacidus	β	Car	0110	A1 III
30	1.69 (1.64–1.74var)	Alnilam	ε	Ori	2,000	B0 Ia
31	1.72 (1.81–1.87var + 4.27)	Regor[lower-alpha 1]	γ^1,2	Vel	0840	WC8, O7.5III
32	1.74	Alnair	α	Gru	0100	B6 V
33	1.77	Alioth	ε	UMa	0081	A1 III-IVp kB9
34	1.77	Alnitak	ζ	Ori A	0820	O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III
35	1.79	Dubhe	α	UMa	0120	K0 III, F0 V
36	1.80	Mirfak	α	Per	0590	F5 Ib
37	1.82	Wezen	δ	CMa	1,800	F8 Ia
38	1.84	Sargas	θ	Sco	0270	F0 II
39	1.85	Kaus Australis	ε	Sgr	0140	B9.5 III
40	1.86	Avior	ε	Car	0630	K3 III, B2 Vp
41	1.86	Alkaid	η	UMa	0100	B3 V
42	1.90 (1.89–1.94var)	Menkalinan	β	Aur	0100	A1mIV+A1mIV
43	1.91	Atria	α	TrA	0420	K2 IIb-IIIa
44	1.92	Alhena	γ	Gem	0100	A1.5 IV+
45	1.94	Peacock	α	Pav	0180	B3 V
46	1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57)	Alsephina	δ	Vel	0080	A1 Va(n), F7.5 V
47	1.98	Mirzam	β	CMa	0500	B1 II-III
48	2.00	Alphard	α	Hya	0180	K3 II-III
49	1.98 (1.86–2.13var)	Polaris	α	UMi	0430	F7 Ib
50	2.00	Hamal	α	Ari	0066	K1 IIIb
51	2.08 (2.37 + 3.64)	Algieba	γ^1	Leo	0130	K0 III, G7 IIIb
52	2.02	Diphda	β	Cet	0096	K0 III
53	2.04	Mizar	ζ	UMa	0078	A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am
54	2.05	Nunki	σ	Sgr	0220	B2.5 V
55	2.06	Menkent	θ	Cen	0061	K0 III
56	2.05 (2.01–2.10var)	Mirach	β	And	0200	M0 III
57	2.06	Alpheratz	α	And	0097	B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V
58	2.07	Rasalhague	α	Oph	0047	A5 III
59	2.08	Kochab	β	UMi	0130	K4 III
60	2.09	Saiph	κ	Ori	0720	B0.5 Ia
61	2.11	Denebola	β	Leo	0036	A3 Va
62	2.12 (2.1–3.39var)	Algol	β	Per	0093	B8 V, K0 IV, A7m
63	2.15 (2.0–2.3var)	Tiaki	β	Gru	0170	M5 III
64	2.17	Muhlifain	γ	Cen	0130	A0 III, A0 III
65	2.21	Aspidiske	ι	Car	0690	A9 Ib
66	2.21 (2.14–2.30var)	Suhail	λ	Vel	0570	K4 Ib
67	2.23 (2.21–2.32var)	Alphecca	α	CrB	0075	A0 V, G5 V
68	2.23 (2.23–2.35var)	Mintaka	δ	Ori	0900	O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV
69	2.23	Sadr	γ	Cyg	1,500	F8 Iab
70	2.23	Eltanin	γ	Dra	0150	K5 III
71	2.24	Schedar	α	Cas	0230	K0 IIIa
72	2.25	Naos	ζ	Pup	1,080	O4 If(n)p
73	2.26	Almach	γ	And	0350	K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V
74	2.28 (2.25–2.31var)	Caph	β	Cas	0054	F2 III
75	2.29	Izar	ε	Boo	0202	K0 II-III, A2 V
76	2.30 (2.29–2.34var)	–	α	Lup	0550	B1.5 III
77	2.30 (2.29–2.31var)	–	ε	Cen	0380	B1III
78	2.31 (1.6–2.32var)	Dschubba	δ	Sco	0400	B0.3 IV, B1-3 V
79	2.31	Larawag	ε	Sco	0065	K1 III
80	2.35 (2.30–2.41var)	–	η	Cen	0310	B1.5 Vne
81	2.37	Merak	β	UMa	0079	A1 IVps
82	2.38	Ankaa	α	Phe	0077	K0.5 IIIb
83	2.39	Girtab[lower-alpha 2]	κ	Sco	0460	B1.5 III
84	2.40 (0.7–3.0var)	Enif	ε	Peg	0670	K2 Ib
85	2.42 (2.31–2.74var)	Scheat	β	Peg	0200	M2.5 II-IIIe
86	2.43	Sabik	η	Oph	0088	A1 IV, A1 IV
87	2.44	Phecda	γ	UMa	0084	A0 Ve
88	2.45	Aludra	η	CMa	2,000	B5 Ia
89	2.46	Markeb	κ	Vel	0540	B2 IV
90	2.47 (1.6–3.0var)	Navi[lower-alpha 3]	γ	Cas	0610	B0.5 IVe
91	2.48	Markab	α	Peg	0140	A0 IV
92	2.48	Aljanah	ε	Cyg	0072	K0 III-IV
93	2.50	Acrab	β	Sco	0404	B0.5 IV-V, B1.5 V, B2 V

Spatial distribution of these stars

The 92 stars listed above (thus omitting the sun) are in 38 modern constellations (of the 88 possible constellations), in turn covering 61.1% of our surrounds (the celestial sphere).

As drawn, diminutive Crux, which has three of these stars is the most densely populated as to these stars (this 3.26% of the list being 19.2 times more than the expected 0.17% that would result on a homogenous distribution of all bright stars and a randomised drawing of constellations, being its area). Virgo and Hydra have one such star yet more than 3% each of the night sky associated with them by professional astronomers, as these constellation's limits have been drawn by the IAU. Among the 50 constellations with none of these, Hercules is the largest, covering 2.97% of the galactic and extra-galactic surrounds.

See also

• Lists of astronomical objects
• 88 modern constellations by area
• Historical brightest stars: the brightest star in Earth's night sky at each period within the last or next 5 million year
• List of brightest natural objects in the sky
• List of largest stars
• List of most luminous stars
• List of nearest bright stars
• List of nearest galaxies
• List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs
• Lists of constellations
• Lists of stars
• Lists of stars by constellation
• Stars and planetary systems in fiction

Notes

1. Name does not appear in the IAU Catalog of Star Names
2. Name does not appear in the IAU Catalog of Star Names
3. Name does not appear in the IAU Catalog of Star Names

References

1. "Naming Stars". IAU Division C WG Star Names. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
2. Hoffleit, Dorrit; Jaschek, Carlos (1991). "The Bright star catalogue". New Haven. Bibcode:1991bsc..book.....H.
3. Bessell, Michael S. (2005). "Standard Photometric Systems". Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics. 43 (1): 293–336. Bibcode:2005ARA&A..43..293B. doi:10.1146/annurev.astro.41.082801.100251.
4. Ducati, J. R. (2002). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2237. Bibcode:2002yCat.2237....0D.
5. Macmillan Dictionary of Astronomy (Illingworth, Valerie, 1985). Dictionary Series (Second ed.). Springer. April 1985. p. 237. ISBN 9781349178032. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
6. Landolt, Arlo U. (2009). "UBVRI Photometric Standard Stars Around the Celestial Equator: Updates and Additions". The Astronomical Journal. 137 (5): 4186–4269. arXiv:0904.0638. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.4186L. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/5/4186.

External links

• 25 Brightest Stars, as Seen from the Earth
• The Brightest Stars at An Atlas of the Universe
• The Magnitude system
• About stellar magnitudes