List of brightest stars

This article is about the brightness of stars as seen from Earth (apparent magnitude). For intrinsic luminosity of stars (absolute magnitude), see List of most luminous stars.

This is a list of stars arranged by their apparent magnitude – their brightness as observed from Earth. It includes all stars brighter than magnitude +2.50 in visible light, measured using a V-band filter in the UBV photometric system. Stars in binary systems (or other multiples) are listed by their total or combined brightness if they appear as a single star to the naked eye, or listed separately if they do not. As with all magnitude systems in astronomy, the scale is logarithmic and inverted i.e. lower/more negative numbers are brighter.

Most stars on this list appear bright from Earth because they are nearby, not because they are intrinsically luminous. For a list which compensates for the distances, converting the apparent magnitude to the absolute magnitude, see the list of most luminous stars.

Some major asterisms, which feature many of the brightest stars in the night sky

Measurement

The Sun is the brightest star as viewed from Earth, at −26.78 mag. The second brightest is Sirius at −1.46 mag. For comparison, the brightest non-stellar objects in the Solar System have maximum brightnesses of:

• the Moon −12.7 mag^[1]
• Venus −4.92 mag
• Jupiter −2.94 mag
• Mars −2.94 mag
• Mercury −2.48 mag
• Saturn −0.55 mag^[2]

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

• Stellar brightness is 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 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 binary star system Alpha Centauri has the total or combined magnitude of −0.27, while its two component stars have magnitudes of +0.01 and +1.33.^[3]
• 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.^[4] For example, Betelgeuse has the K-band (infrared) apparent magnitude of −4.05.^[5]
• 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 the symbol "var". Single magnitude values quoted for variable stars come from a variety of sources. Magnitudes shown in the table are either when the stars are at maximum brightness, which is repeated for every cycle (e.g. the eclipsing binary Algol); or, if the variations are small, a simple average magnitude. For red variable stars, specifying a single maximum brightness is often difficult because each cycle produces a different maximum brightness; this 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^[6] from estimated maxima 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 few selected stars, thought to be uniformly fixed in brightness, are used as standard stars.^[which?] 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.^[7]

Nomenclature

All of these stars have multiple valid names or catalogue designations. The table lists their Bayer designation and the most common proper name. Most of the proper names have been approved^[8] by the Working Group on Star Names of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Popular names which have not been approved by the IAU are omitted.

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.

Legend

Wolf–Rayet star

O-type star

B-type star

A-type star

F-type star

G-type star

K-type star

M-type star

Brightest star of its constellation

Rank	Visual magnitude (mV)	Proper name[8]	Bayer designation	Distance (ly)	Spectral type	Celestial Hemisphere
0	0.000−26.74	Sun		0.0	G2 V
1	0.001−1.46	Sirius	α CMa	0008.6	A0mA1 Va, DA2	Southern
2	0.003−0.74	Canopus	α Car	0310	A9 II	Southern
3	0.004−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33)	Rigil Kentaurus & Toliman	α Cen	0004.34	G2 V, K1 V	Southern
4	0.005−0.05	Arcturus	α Boo	0037	K0 III	Northern
5	0.03 (−0.02–0.07var)	Vega	α Lyr	0025	A0 Va	Northern
6	0.08 (0.03–0.16var)	Capella	α Aur	0043	K0 III, G1 III	Northern
7	0.13 (0.05–0.18var)	Rigel	β Ori	0860	B8 Ia	Southern
8	0.34	Procyon	α CMi	0011	F5 IV-V	Northern
9	0.46 (0.40–0.46var)	Achernar	α Eri	0140	B3 Vpe	Southern
10	0.50 (0.0–1.6var)	Betelgeuse	α Ori	640	M1-M2 Ia-ab	Northern
11	0.61	Hadar	β Cen	0390	B1 III	Southern
12	0.76	Altair	α Aql	0017	A7 V	Northern
13	0.76 (1.33 + 1.73)	Acrux	α Cru	0320	B0.5 IV, B1 V	Southern
14	0.86 (0.75–0.95var)	Aldebaran	α Tau	0065	K5 III	Northern
15	0.96 (0.6–1.6var)	Antares	α Sco	0550	M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V	Southern
16	0.97 (0.97–1.04var)	Spica	α Vir	0250	B1 III-IV, B2 V	Southern
17	1.14	Pollux	β Gem	0034	K0 III	Northern
18	1.16	Fomalhaut	α PsA	0025	A3 V	Southern
19	1.25 (1.21–1.29var)	Deneb	α Cyg	2,600	A2 Ia	Northern
20	1.25 (1.23–1.31var)	Mimosa	β Cru	0280	B0.5 III, B2 V	Southern
21	1.39	Regulus	α Leo	0079	B8 IVn	Northern
22	1.50	Adhara	ε CMa	0430	B2 II	Southern
23	1.58 (1.93 + 2.97)	Castor	α Gem	0051	A1 V, Am	Northern
24	1.62	Shaula	λ Sco	0570	B2 IV	Southern
25	1.64	Gacrux	γ Cru	0089	M3.5 III	Southern
26	1.64	Bellatrix	γ Ori	0250	B2 III	Northern
27	1.65	Elnath	β Tau/γ Aur	0130	B7 III	Northern
28	1.69	Miaplacidus	β Car	0110	A1 III	Southern
29	1.69 (1.64–1.74var)	Alnilam	ε Ori	1,180	B0 Ia	Southern
30	1.74	Alnair	α Gru	0100	B6 V	Southern
31	1.77	Alnitak	ζ Ori	01,300	O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III	Southern
32	1.77	Alioth	ε UMa	0083	A1 III-IVp kB9	Northern
33	1.79	Dubhe	α UMa	0120	K0 III, F0 V	Northern
34	1.82	Mirfak	α Per	0510	F5 Ib	Northern
35	1.82	Wezen	δ CMa	1,800	F8 Ia	Southern
36	1.83 (1.81–1.87var + 4.27)	Regor	γ Vel	0840	WC8, O7.5III	Southern
37	1.84	Sargas	θ Sco	0330	F0 II	Southern
38	1.85	Kaus Australis	ε Sgr	0140	B9.5 III	Southern
39	1.86	Avior	ε Car	0600	K3 III, B2 Vp	Southern
40	1.86	Alkaid	η UMa	0100	B3 V	Northern
41	1.90 (1.89–1.94var)	Menkalinan	β Aur	080	A1mIV+A1mIV	Northern
42	1.91	Atria	α TrA	0390	K2 IIb-IIIa	Southern
43	1.92	Alhena	γ Gem	0100	A1.5 IV+	Northern
44	1.94	Peacock	α Pav	0180	B3 V	Southern
45	1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57)	Alsephina	δ Vel	0080	A1 Va(n), F7.5 V	Southern
46	1.98	Mirzam	β CMa	0500	B1 II-III	Southern
47	1.98 (1.86–2.13var)	Polaris	α UMi	0430	F7 Ib	Northern
48	2.00	Alphard	α Hya	0180	K3 II-III	Southern
49	2.00	Hamal	α Ari	0066	K1 IIIb	Northern
50	2.02	Diphda	β Cet	0096	K0 III	Southern
51	2.04	Mizar	ζ UMa	0083	A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am	Northern
52	2.05	Nunki	σ Sgr	0230	B2.5 V	Southern
53	2.06	Menkent	θ Cen	0059	K0 III	Southern
54	2.06	Alpheratz	α And/δ Peg	0097	B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V	Northern
55	2.07[9] (2.01–2.10var)	Mirach	β And	0200	M0 III	Northern
56	2.07	Rasalhague	α Oph	0047	A5IVnn	Northern
57	2.08 (2.37 + 3.64)	Algieba	γ Leo	0130	K0 III, G7 IIIb	Northern
58	2.08	Kochab	β UMi	0130	K4 III	Northern
59	2.09	Saiph	κ Ori	0650	B0.5 Ia	Southern
60	2.11	Denebola	β Leo	0036	A3 Va	Northern
61	2.12 (2.1–3.39var)	Algol	β Per	0093	B8 V, K0 IV, A7m	Northern
62	2.15 (2.0–2.3var)	Tiaki	β Gru	0170	M5 III	Southern
63	2.17	Muhlifain	γ Cen	0130	A0 III, A0 III	Southern
64	2.21	Aspidiske	ι Car	0690	A9 Ib	Southern
65	2.21 (2.14–2.30var)	Suhail	λ Vel	0570	K4 Ib	Southern
66	2.23 (2.21–2.32var)	Alphecca	α CrB	0075	A0 V, G5 V	Northern
67	2.23 (2.23–2.35var)	Mintaka	δ Ori	0900	O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV	Southern
68	2.23	Sadr	γ Cyg	1,500	F8 Iab	Northern
69	2.23	Eltanin	γ Dra	0150	K5 III	Northern
70	2.24	Schedar	α Cas	0230	K0 IIIa	Northern
71	2.25	Naos	ζ Pup	1,080	O4 If(n)p	Southern
72	2.26	Almach	γ And	0350	K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V	Northern
73	2.28 (2.25–2.31var)	Caph	β Cas	0054	F2 III	Northern
74	2.29	Izar	ε Boo	0202	K0 II-III, A2 V	Northern
75	2.30 (2.29–2.34var)	—	α Lup	0550	B1.5 III	Southern
76	2.30 (2.29–2.31var)	—	ε Cen	0380	B1III	Southern
77	2.31 (1.6–2.32var)	Dschubba	δ Sco	0400	B0.3 IV, B1-3 V	Southern
78	2.31	Larawag	ε Sco	0065	K1 III	Southern
79	2.35 (2.30–2.41var)	—	η Cen	0310	B1.5 Vne	Southern
80	2.37	Merak	β UMa	0079	A1 IVps	Northern
81	2.38	Ankaa	α Phe	0077	K0.5 IIIb	Southern
82	2.39	Girtab	κ Sco	0460	B1.5 III	Southern
83	2.40 (0.7–3.0var)	Enif	ε Peg	0670	K2 Ib	Northern
84	2.42 (2.31–2.74var)	Scheat	β Peg	0200	M2.5 II-IIIe	Northern
85	2.43	Sabik	η Oph	0088	A1 IV, A1 IV	Southern
86	2.44	Phecda	γ UMa	0083	A0 Ve	Northern
87	2.45	Aludra	η CMa	2,000	B5 Ia	Southern
88	2.46	Alderamin	α Cep	49	A8Vn	Northern
89	2.46	Markeb	κ Vel	0540	B2 IV	Southern
90	2.47 (1.6–3.0var)	–	γ Cas	0610	B0.5 IVe	Northern
91	2.48	Markab	α Peg	0140	A0 IV	Northern
92	2.48	Aljanah	ε Cyg	0072	K0 III-IV	Northern
93	2.50	Acrab	β Sco	0404	B0.5 IV-V, B1.5 V, B2 V	Southern

Brightest star by galaxy

Galaxy	Apparent Magnitude	Star	Distance (ly)	Spectral type	Notes
Milky Way	–26.74	Sun	0	G2V
Large Magellanic Cloud	8.99 – 9.22 (variable)[10]	HD 33579	163,000	A3Ia+	The Luminous Blue Variables S Doradus and R71 are brighter during their outbursts.
Small Magellanic Cloud	10.47[11]	SK 69	200,000	B8Ia
Andromeda Galaxy	15.6[12]	[DMM2009] J004406.32+420131	2,500,000	F2Ia
Triangulum Galaxy	14.859[13]	B324	3,200,000	A8–F0Ia	A yellow hypergiant.

See also

• IAU designated 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
• Limiting magnitude
• List of variable stars
• List of semiregular variable stars
• List of stars that have unusual dimming periods
• List of brightest natural objects in the sky
• List of largest stars
• List of most massive stars
• List of most luminous stars
• List of nearest bright stars
• List of nearest stars
• List of nearest galaxies
• Lists of astronomical objects
• Lists of constellations
• Lists of stars
• Lists of stars by constellation
• Stars in fiction
• First-magnitude star

References

1. Zombeck, Martin V. (2007). Handbook of space astronomy and astrophysics (Third ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 75, 144–145. ISBN 978-0-521-78242-5.
2. Mallama, Anthony; Hilton, James L. (October 2018). "Computing apparent planetary magnitudes for The Astronomical Almanac". Astronomy and Computing. 25: 10–24. arXiv:1808.01973. Bibcode:2018A&C....25...10M. doi:10.1016/j.ascom.2018.08.002. S2CID 69912809.
3. Hoffleit, Dorrit; Jaschek, Carlos (1991). "The Bright star catalogue". New Haven. Bibcode:1991bsc..book.....H.
4. 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. S2CID 28977639.
5. 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.
6. Illingworth, Valerie (1979). Macmillan Dictionary of Astronomy. Dictionary Series (Second ed.). London: Springer (published April 1985). p. 237. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-17803-2. ISBN 9781349178032. OCLC 965821821. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
7. 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. S2CID 118627330.
8. "Naming Stars". IAU Division C WG Star Names. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
9. "HD 6860 | NASA Exoplanet Archive". exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
10. "VSX : Detail for LMC V1006". www.aavso.org. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
11. Bonanos, A. Z.; Lennon, D. J.; Köhlinger, F.; van Loon, J. Th.; Massa, D. L.; Sewilo, M.; Evans, C. J.; Panagia, N.; Babler, B. L.; Block, M.; Bracker, S.; Engelbracht, C. W.; Gordon, K. D.; Hora, J. L.; Indebetouw, R. (2010-06-24). "SPITZER SAGE-SMC INFRARED PHOTOMETRY OF MASSIVE STARS IN THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD". The Astronomical Journal. 140 (2): 416–429. arXiv:1004.0949. Bibcode:2010AJ....140..416B. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/2/416. hdl:1887/61635. ISSN 0004-6256. S2CID 119290443.
12. Drout, Maria R.; Massey, Philip; Meynet, Georges; Tokarz, Susan; Caldwell, Nelson (2009-08-27). "Yellow Supergiants in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)". The Astrophysical Journal. 703 (1): 441–460. arXiv:0907.5471. Bibcode:2009ApJ...703..441D. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/703/1/441. ISSN 0004-637X. S2CID 16955101.
13. Massey, Philip; Olsen, K. A. G.; Hodge, Paul W.; Strong, Shay B.; Jacoby, George H.; Schlingman, Wayne; Smith, R. C. (May 2006). "A Survey of Local Group Galaxies Currently Forming Stars. I.UBVRIPhotometry of Stars in M31 and M33". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (5): 2478–2496. arXiv:astro-ph/0602128. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.2478M. doi:10.1086/503256. ISSN 0004-6256.

External links

• The Magnitude system
• About stellar magnitudes
• The clickable brightest stars