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 that have not been approved by the IAU may appear here with a short note.

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	−26.74	Sun			0.000015813	G2 V
2	−1.46	Sirius	α	CMa	8.6	A0mA1 Va, DA2
3	−0.74	Canopus	α	Car	310	A9 II
4	−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33)	Rigil Kentaurus & Toliman	α	Cen	4.4	G2 V, K1 V
5	−0.05	Arcturus	α	Boo	37	K0 III
6	0.03 (−0.02–0.07var)	Vega	α	Lyr	25	A0 Va
7	0.08 (0.03–0.16var)	Capella	α	Aur	43	K0 III, G1 III
8	0.13 (0.05–0.18var)	Rigel	β	Ori	860	B8 Ia
9	0.34	Procyon	α	CMi	11	F5 IV-V
10	0.46 (0.40–0.46var)	Achernar	α	Eri	139	B6 Vep
11	0.50 (0.0–1.6var)	Betelgeuse	α	Ori	700	M1-M2 Ia-ab
12	0.61	Hadar	β	Cen	390	B1 III
13	0.76	Altair	α	Aql	17	A7 V
14	0.76 (1.33 + 1.73)	Acrux	α	Cru	320	B0.5 IV, B1 V
15	0.86 (0.75–0.95var)	Aldebaran	α	Tau	65	K5 III
16	0.96 (0.6–1.6var)	Antares	α	Sco	550	M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V
17	0.97 (0.97–1.04var)	Spica	α	Vir	250	B1 III-IV, B2 V
18	1.14	Pollux	β	Gem	34	K0 III
19	1.16	Fomalhaut	α	PsA	25	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	280	B0.5 III, B2 V
22	1.39	Regulus	α	Leo	79	B8 IVn
23	1.50	Adhara	ε	CMa	430	B2 II
24	1.62	Shaula	λ	Sco	570	B2 IV
25	1.62 (1.98 + 2.97)	Castor	α	Gem	52	A1 V, Am
26	1.64	Gacrux	γ	Cru	88	M3.5 III
27	1.64	Bellatrix	γ	Ori	240	B2 III
28	1.65	Elnath	β	Tau	130	B7 III
29	1.69	Miaplacidus	β	Car	110	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	840	WC8, O7.5III
32	1.74	Alnair	α	Gru	100	B6 V
33	1.77	Alioth	ε	UMa	81	A1 III-IVp kB9
34	1.77	Alnitak	ζ	Ori A	820	O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III
35	1.79	Dubhe	α	UMa	120	K0 III, F0 V
36	1.80	Mirfak	α	Per	590	F5 Ib
37	1.82	Wezen	δ	CMa	1,800	F8 Ia
38	1.84	Sargas	θ	Sco	270	F0 II
39	1.85	Kaus Australis	ε	Sgr	140	B9.5 III
40	1.86	Avior	ε	Car	630	K3 III, B2 Vp
41	1.86	Alkaid	η	UMa	100	B3 V
42	1.90 (1.89–1.94var)	Menkalinan	β	Aur	100	A1mIV+A1mIV
43	1.91	Atria	α	TrA	420	K2 IIb-IIIa
44	1.92	Alhena	γ	Gem	100	A1.5 IV+
45	1.94	Peacock	α	Pav	180	B3 V
46	1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57)	Alsephina	δ	Vel	80	A1 Va(n), F7.5 V
47	1.98	Mirzam	β	CMa	500	B1 II-III
48	2.00	Alphard	α	Hya	180	K3 II-III
49	1.98 (1.86–2.13var)	Polaris	α	UMi	430	F7 Ib
50	2.00	Hamal	α	Ari	66	K1 IIIb
51	2.08 (2.37 + 3.64)	Algieba	γ^1	Leo	130	K0 III, G7 IIIb
52	2.02	Diphda	β	Cet	96	K0 III
53	2.04	Mizar	ζ	UMa	78	A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am
54	2.05	Nunki	σ	Sgr	220	B2.5 V
55	2.06	Menkent	θ	Cen	61	K0 III
56	2.05 (2.01–2.10var)	Mirach	β	And	200	M0 III
57	2.06	Alpheratz	α	And	97	B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V
58	2.07	Rasalhague	α	Oph	47	A5 III
59	2.08	Kochab	β	UMi	130	K4 III
60	2.09	Saiph	κ	Ori	720	B0.5 Ia
61	2.11	Denebola	β	Leo	36	A3 Va
62	2.12 (2.1–3.39var)	Algol	β	Per	93	B8 V, K0 IV, A7m
63	2.15 (2.0–2.3var)	Tiaki	β	Gru	170	M5 III
64	2.17	Muhlifain	γ	Cen	130	A0 III, A0 III
65	2.21	Aspidiske	ι	Car	690	A9 Ib
66	2.21 (2.14–2.30var)	Suhail	λ	Vel	570	K4 Ib
67	2.23 (2.21–2.32var)	Alphecca	α	CrB	75	A0 V, G5 V
68	2.23 (2.23–2.35var)	Mintaka	δ	Ori	900	O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV
69	2.23	Sadr	γ	Cyg	1,500	F8 Iab
70	2.23	Eltanin	γ	Dra	150	K5 III
71	2.24	Schedar	α	Cas	230	K0 IIIa
72	2.25	Naos	ζ	Pup	1,080	O4 If(n)p
73	2.26	Almach	γ	And	350	K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V
74	2.28 (2.25–2.31var)	Caph	β	Cas	54	F2 III
75	2.29	Izar	ε	Boo	202	K0 II-III, A2 V
76	2.30 (2.29–2.34var)	–	α	Lup	550	B1.5 III
77	2.30 (2.29–2.31var)	–	ε	Cen	380	B1III
78	2.31 (1.6–2.32var)	Dschubba	δ	Sco	400	B0.3 IV, B1-3 V
79	2.31	Larawag	ε	Sco	65	K1 III
80	2.35 (2.30–2.41var)	–	η	Cen	310	B1.5 Vne
81	2.37	Merak	β	UMa	79	A1 IVps
82	2.38	Ankaa	α	Phe	77	K0.5 IIIb
83	2.39	Girtab[lower-alpha 2]	κ	Sco	460	B1.5 III
84	2.40 (0.7–3.0var)	Enif	ε	Peg	670	K2 Ib
85	2.42 (2.31–2.74var)	Scheat	β	Peg	200	M2.5 II-IIIe
86	2.43	Sabik	η	Oph	88	A1 IV, A1 IV
87	2.44	Phecda	γ	UMa	84	A0 Ve
88	2.45	Aludra	η	CMa	2,000	B5 Ia
89	2.46	Markeb	κ	Vel	540	B2 IV
90	2.47 (1.6–3.0var)	Navi[lower-alpha 3]	γ	Cas	610	B0.5 IVe
91	2.48	Markab	α	Peg	140	A0 IV
92	2.48	Aljanah	ε	Cyg	72	K0 III-IV
93	2.50	Acrab	β	Sco	404	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

• 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 years
• 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 astronomical objects
• 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

• The Magnitude system
• About stellar magnitudes