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 1part 2 Distance (ly) Spectral class
1 0.000−26.74 Sun   0.000015813 G2 V
2 0.001−1.46 Sirius αCMa 0008.6 A0mA1 Va, DA2
3 0.003−0.74 Canopus αCar 0310 A9 II
4 0.004−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33) Rigil Kentaurus & Toliman αCen 0004.4 G2 V, K1 V
5 0.005−0.05 Arcturus αBoo 0037 K0 III
6 0.03 (−0.02–0.07var) Vega αLyr 0025 A0 Va
7 0.08 (0.03–0.16var) Capella αAur 0043 K0 III, G1 III
8 0.13 (0.05–0.18var) Rigel βOri 0860 B8 Ia
9 0.34 Procyon αCMi 0011 F5 IV-V
10 0.46 (0.40–0.46var) Achernar αEri 0139 B6 Vep
11 0.50 (0.2–1.2var) Betelgeuse αOri 0700 M1-M2 Ia-ab
12 0.61 Hadar βCen 0390 B1 III
13 0.76 Altair αAql 0017 A7 V
14 0.76 (1.33 + 1.73) Acrux αCru 0320 B0.5 IV, B1 V
15 0.86 (0.75–0.95var) Aldebaran αTau 0065 K5 III
16 0.96 (0.6–1.6var) Antares αSco 0550 M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V
17 0.97 (0.97–1.04var) Spica αVir 0250 B1 III-IV, B2 V
18 1.14 Pollux βGem 0034 K0 III
19 1.16 Fomalhaut αPsA 0025 A3 V
20 1.25 (1.21–1.29var) Deneb αCyg 2,615 A2 Ia
21 1.25 (1.23–1.31var) Mimosa βCru 0280 B0.5 III, B2 V
22 1.39 Regulus αLeo 0079 B8 IVn
23 1.50 Adhara εCMa 0430 B2 II
24 1.62 Shaula λSco 0570 B2 IV
25 1.62 (1.98 + 2.97) Castor αGem 0052 A1 V, Am
26 1.64 Gacrux γCru 0088 M3.5 III
27 1.64 Bellatrix γOri 0240 B2 III
28 1.65 Elnath βTau 0130 B7 III
29 1.69 Miaplacidus βCar 0110 A1 III
30 1.69 (1.64–1.74var) Alnilam εOri 2,000 B0 Ia
31 1.72 (1.81–1.87var + 4.27) Regor[lower-alpha 1] γ1,2Vel 0840 WC8, O7.5III
32 1.74 Alnair αGru 0100 B6 V
33 1.77 Alioth εUMa 0081 A1 III-IVp kB9
34 1.77 Alnitak ζOri A 0820 O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III
35 1.79 Dubhe αUMa 0120 K0 III, F0 V
36 1.80 Mirfak αPer 0590 F5 Ib
37 1.82 Wezen δCMa 1,800 F8 Ia
38 1.84 Sargas θSco 0270 F0 II
39 1.85 Kaus Australis εSgr 0140 B9.5 III
40 1.86 Avior εCar 0630 K3 III, B2 Vp
41 1.86 Alkaid ηUMa 0100 B3 V
42 1.90 (1.89–1.94var) Menkalinan βAur 0100 A1mIV+A1mIV
43 1.91 Atria αTrA 0420 K2 IIb-IIIa
44 1.92 Alhena γGem 0100 A1.5 IV+
45 1.94 Peacock αPav 0180 B3 V
46 1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57) Alsephina δVel 0080 A1 Va(n), F7.5 V
47 1.98 Mirzam βCMa 0500 B1 II-III
48 2.00 Alphard αHya 0180 K3 II-III
49 1.98 (1.86–2.13var) Polaris αUMi 0430 F7 Ib
50 2.00 Hamal αAri 0066 K1 IIIb
51 2.08 (2.37 + 3.64) Algieba γ1Leo 0130 K0 III, G7 IIIb
52 2.02 Diphda βCet 0096 K0 III
53 2.04 Mizar ζUMa 0078 A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am
54 2.05 Nunki σSgr 0220 B2.5 V
55 2.06 Menkent θCen 0061 K0 III
56 2.05 (2.01–2.10var) Mirach βAnd 0200 M0 III
57 2.06 Alpheratz αAnd 0097 B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V
58 2.07 Rasalhague αOph 0047 A5 III
59 2.08 Kochab βUMi 0130 K4 III
60 2.09 Saiph κOri 0720 B0.5 Ia
61 2.11 Denebola βLeo 0036 A3 Va
62 2.12 (2.1–3.39var) Algol βPer 0093 B8 V, K0 IV, A7m
63 2.15 (2.0–2.3var) Tiaki βGru 0170 M5 III
64 2.17 Muhlifain γCen 0130 A0 III, A0 III
65 2.21 Aspidiske ιCar 0690 A9 Ib
66 2.21 (2.14–2.30var) Suhail λVel 0570 K4 Ib
67 2.23 (2.21–2.32var) Alphecca αCrB 0075 A0 V, G5 V
68 2.23 (2.23–2.35var) Mintaka δOri 0900 O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV
69 2.23 Sadr γCyg 1,500 F8 Iab
70 2.23 Eltanin γDra 0150 K5 III
71 2.24 Schedar αCas 0230 K0 IIIa
72 2.25 Naos ζPup 1,080 O4 If(n)p
73 2.26 Almach γAnd 0350 K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V
74 2.28 (2.25–2.31var) Caph βCas 0054 F2 III
75 2.29 Izar εBoo 0202 K0 II-III, A2 V
76 2.30 (2.29–2.34var) – αLup 0550 B1.5 III
77 2.30 (2.29–2.31var) – εCen 0380 B1III
78 2.31 (1.6–2.32var) Dschubba δSco 0400 B0.3 IV, B1-3 V
79 2.31 Larawag εSco 0065 K1 III
80 2.35 (2.30–2.41var) – ηCen 0310 B1.5 Vne
81 2.37 Merak βUMa 0079 A1 IVps
82 2.38 Ankaa αPhe 0077 K0.5 IIIb
83 2.39 Girtab[lower-alpha 2] κSco 0460 B1.5 III
84 2.40 (0.7–3.0var) Enif εPeg 0670 K2 Ib
85 2.42 (2.31–2.74var) Scheat βPeg 0200 M2.5 II-IIIe
86 2.43 Sabik ηOph 0088 A1 IV, A1 IV
87 2.44 Phecda γUMa 0084 A0 Ve
88 2.45 Aludra ηCMa 2,000 B5 Ia
89 2.46 Markeb κVel 0540 B2 IV
90 2.47 (1.6–3.0var) Navi[lower-alpha 3] γCas 0610 B0.5 IVe
91 2.48 Markab αPeg 0140 A0 IV
92 2.48 Aljanah εCyg 0072 K0 III-IV
93 2.50 Acrab βSco 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

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.
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