List of brightest stars

This is a list of the brightest 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 also known close binary or multiple star systems, they appear to the naked eye as single stars. The given 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.

Measurement

Apparent visual magnitudes of the brightest star can also be compared to non-stellar objects in our Solar System. Here the maximum visible magnitudes above the 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 optical telescope's invention, and the known existence of double or binary stars, has meant that 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 stars are included in parentheses, where any individual component magnitudes are bright enough to make a detectable contribution. e.g. 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 (infra-red) 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 star's 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 V Mag.
(mV)		 Proper name Bayer designation 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 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 42 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 140 B6 Vep
11 0.50 (0.2 - 1.2var) Betelgeuse α Ori 640[7] M1-M2 Ia-ab
12 0.61 Hadar β Cen 350 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 600 M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V
17 0.97 (0.97 - 1.04var) Spica α Vir 260 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 2,600 A2 Ia
21 1.25 (1.23 - 1.31var) Mimosa β Cru 350 B0.5 III, B2 V
22 1.39 Regulus α Leo 77 B8 IVn
23 1.50 Adhara ε CMa 430 B2 II
24 1.62 Shaula λ Sco 700 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[8] γ1,2 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[9] 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 γ1 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[9] 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 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 1,100 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[9] 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 – 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[10] B5 Ia
89 2.46 Markeb[9] κ Vel 540 B2 IV
90 2.47 (1.6 - 3.0var) – γ Cas 610 B0.5 IVe
91 2.48 Markab α Peg 140 A0 IV
92 2.48 Aljanah[9] ε Cyg 72 K0 III-IV
93 2.50 Acrab β Sco 404 B0.5 IV-V, B1.5 V, B2 V

See also

Notes

    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: 293. 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. p. 237. 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. arXiv:0904.0638. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.4186L. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/5/4186.
    7. ↑ Harper, Graham M.; Brown, Alexander; Guinan, Edward F. (April 2008). "A New VLA-Hipparcos Distance to Betelgeuse and its Implications". The Astronomical Journal. IOP Publishing. 135 (4, ): 1430–1440. Bibcode:2008AJ....135.1430H. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/4/1430.
    8. ↑ Name does not appear in the IAU Catalog of Star Names |access-date= requires |url= (help)
    9. 1 2 3 4 5 "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 5 September 2017.
    10. ↑ van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 474 (2): 653–664. arXiv:0708.1752. Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357.
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