The brightest star is in the constellation. The brightest stars in the sky

Currently, the brightest star that can be seen in the earth's sky (besides, of course, the Sun) is Sirius. Its apparent magnitude is -1.46. The fact that Sirius is the brightest star in our sky is largely due to its proximity - a star distant from us at 8.6 light years has a mass of two and a luminosity of twenty-two solar, while in our galaxy there are stars whose luminosity exceeds the solar million times. Another thing is that they are much, much further than Sirius.
As you know, the sun revolves around the center milky way, making one revolution in about 225 million years. In the process of this drift, some stars approach solar system, some are removed - so that for thousands of years the pattern of the starry sky is gradually changing, and visible stars can become both brighter and dimmer.

So, during the Pliocene, the brightest star in the sky was Adara. Now this blue-white giant is located at a distance of 430 light years from us and has an apparent magnitude of +1.51. But 4.7 million years ago, Adara passed from the solar system at a distance of only 34 light years. Given that the luminosity of the star is 20,000 times that of the Sun, at that time it sparkled in the night sky almost as brightly as Venus, with an apparent magnitude of -3.99.

After 300,000 years, Adara was replaced by another bright blue giant Mirtsam. The star passed at a distance of 37 light years from the solar system and at that time had an apparent magnitude of -3.65. Since then, Mirtsam has moved away from us at a distance of 500 light years and has dimmed to a magnitude of +1.95. Over the next four million years, the brightest stars in the earth's sky were Zeta Hare, Askella, Aldebaran, Capella, and thrice Canopus. None of these stars could compare in brightness with Adara and Mirtsam - the brightest among them was Askella, which 1.2 million years ago had an apparent magnitude of -2.74.

Of course, Sirius will not always be the brightest star in the sky either. In about 60 thousand years, it will approach the solar system at a minimum distance of 7.8 light years, reaching a maximum apparent magnitude of -1.64, after which it will begin to gradually move away. In 150 thousand years, Vega will receive the title of the brightest star in our sky. Its maximum apparent magnitude will be -0.8.

In another 270,000 years, Canopus will become the brightest star in the night sky. The funny thing is that by that time it will be at a distance of 350 light years from us and have an apparent magnitude of only -0.4, while now these figures are respectively 310 light years and -0.72. But the fact is that by that time other large stars will move away from us at an even greater distance.

After Canopus, the brightest stars in the earth's sky will be Beta Aurigae and Delta Scuti. The latter will surpass Sirius in brightness for some time, reaching an apparent magnitude of -1.8. This will happen in about 1.25 million years.

The constellation Orion is one of the most beautiful in the night sky. It is familiar to many from childhood: it is difficult to ignore it, since the most noticeable stars and celestial objects in the constellation Orion are visible from Earth with the naked eye. These include luminaries that surpass the Sun in a number of parameters, and the beautiful Great Nebula M42. Two bright stars in the constellation Orion, Rigel and Betelgeuse, are very easy to find in the sky. They facilitate the detection of the remaining elements of the constellation.

Description

Orion is an ancient mythical character, a skilled hunter, companion and lover of Artemis. Legends and myths about the constellation Orion say that it appeared in the sky at the behest of the inconsolable goddess who killed the hunter as a result of her cunning. jealous brother Apollo. Artemis swore to remember her lover forever and placed him in heaven.

In the arrangement of elements it is very easy to guess the silhouette of a hunter. He stood in the sky with a raised club, a sword at his belt and a shield in his hand. Constellation details are known asterisms. The sheaf forms a characteristic figure. It is formed by three well-marked stars located on one straight line. A little lower is the asterism Sword of Orion, which includes two stars and between them a blurry spot of the M42 nebula. The belt with the southeast end of the line points to Sirius, and the northwest end to Aldebaran.

Each bright star in the constellation Orion is impressive. The constellations surrounding it lose in beauty precisely because of the absence of such a large number of elements that are impressive in their luminosity.

palm

Against the backdrop of all this splendor, a pair of giants stands out. The historical name of the two brightest stars in the constellation Orion is Rigel and Betelgeuse. Their scientific designation is Beta and Alpha Orionis, respectively. Both giants, as already mentioned, are perfectly visible from Earth. It can be said that they compete for the title of the first star in this celestial drawing. Betelgeuse is designated as Alpha, but Rigel is somewhat brighter.

The name of two bright stars in the constellation Orion is of Arabic origin. Rigel in translation means “leg”, and Betelgeuse means “armpit”. The names of the stars, therefore, give an approximate understanding of where the luminaries are located. Alpha Orion is located on the hunter's right armpit, and Beta is on his leg.

red supergiant

Betelgeuse in many ways can be considered the most significant luminary in Orion. This is a red supergiant, belonging to semi-regular variable stars: its brightness varies from 0.2 to 1.2 magnitudes. At the same time, the lower limit of luminosity exceeds the level of this parameter in the Sun by eighty thousand times. The distance separating the star and the Earth is estimated at an average of 570 light years (the exact value of the parameter is unknown).

The scale of Betelgeuse can be understood by comparing them with the size of the orbits of the planets of the solar system. Minimum size stars, if placed in the place of our luminary, would cover all space up to the orbit of Mars. The maximum would correspond to the orbit of Jupiter. The mass of Betelgeuse is 13-17 times greater than the sun.

Study problems

Alpha Orion is 300 million times larger than the Sun. It is difficult to measure its exact diameter, since its brightness slowly decreases with distance from the center of the star. It is generally accepted that if the distance to Betelgeuse is taken as 650 light years, then its diameter varies from 500 to 800 of the corresponding parameters of our star.

Betelgeuse is the first luminary after the Sun for which a disk image could be obtained using a space telescope. The image captured the ultraviolet atmosphere of a star with a bright spot in the center. Its dimensions exceed several tens of times the earth's diameter. The temperature of this area is much higher than on the rest of the surface of the cosmic body. The origin of the stain is still unknown. It is assumed that it is the result of a new physical phenomenon affecting the star's atmosphere.

leg of orion

Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion. The constellations Hare and Eridanus, adjacent to the celestial image of the mythical hunter, are often identified in the sky by their proximity to Rigel. Beta Orionis, due to its brightness, serves as a guide for observers.

Rigel is a white-blue supergiant with a visual - 0.12. The distance to the star from the Sun is approximately 860. The radius of Beta Orion is inferior to that of Betelgeuse. At the same time, the luminosity of Rigel is 130 thousand times greater than that of our star. In this parameter, he is ahead of Alpha Orion.

Like Betelgeuse, Rigel is a variable star. It is characterized by an irregular cycle of change in its value from 0.3 to 0.03 with a period of approximately 24 days. Rigel is traditionally considered a triple. Sometimes he is credited with possessing a fourth component. However, indisputable evidence of its existence has not yet been obtained.

Neighbor

Associated with Beta Orionis is the Witch's Head Nebula. In its shape, it really is very similar to the head of a witch in a pointed hat. This is a reflection nebula, glowing due to the proximity to Rigel. In the pictures, the Witch's Head has a bluish tint, since particles of cosmic dust in the composition of the nebula better reflect blue light, and Rigel itself emits mainly in the blue part of the spectrum.

Evolution

Two bright stars in the constellation Orion will not always be so. The internal processes of both will sooner or later lead to fuel burnout and, possibly, an explosion - impressive dimensions do not contribute to long-term existence. However, they are definitely enough for our age. Betelgeuse is predicted to shine for at least another two thousand years. Then it collapses and explodes. At the same time, its brightness will become comparable to the light of half or even the full moon. According to another scenario, Betelgeuse will “quietly” turn into a white dwarf. In any case, at the end of the process for an earthly observer, the shoulder of Orion will go out.

Rigel is also destined to shine in the sky for a short time with an explosion of enormous power. According to assumptions, his fury will be comparable to a quarter of the moon.

Other luminaries

The two bright stars in the constellation Orion are not the only prominent objects in this celestial pattern. The hunter's belt consists of three luminaries clearly visible from the Earth. These are Mintaka (Delta Orion), Alnitak (Zeta) and Alnilam (Epsilon). On the left shoulder of the hunter is Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis), the third brightest point in the constellation. Its luminosity exceeds the solar 4 thousand times. Among the stars available for observation with the naked eye, Bellatrix stands out for its significant surface heating. Its temperature is estimated at 21,500º K.

Nebulae and black holes

Two more bright stars in the constellation Orion are located just below the Belt and belong to the Sword of the Hunter. This is Theta and Iota of Orion. Between them, a third object is noticeable, which, unknowingly, can also be attributed to the number of stars. However, this is the Great Nebula of Orion, which appears to be a small, blurry spot from Earth. New stars are constantly being born here. Here, presumably, is located the largest mass exceeding the Sun by 100 times.

No less than M42, the Torch and Horsehead Nebulae, also located in the constellation Orion, are also famous. The first one really looks like flames rising above the fire, for which it got its name. The Horsehead Nebula also lives up to its name in shape. The silhouette of a horse is clearly visible in the pictures. It looks like she's about to jump on. refers to reflection nebulae: by itself, it does not emit light. The nebula IC 434, which serves as a background, provides an opportunity to admire it. It highlights the dark neighbor.

The constellation Orion is often visible in numerous telescope images. Interesting objects: stars, nebulae, clouds of gas and cosmic dust - amaze with their beauty in photographs. However, the silhouette of a hunter seems no less impressive from the Earth. Such an abundance of bright and accessible objects for observation with the naked eye is not typical, perhaps, for any other celestial images.

Those who want to see all the beauty that the mythical hunter hides can use the numerous astronomy resources that allow you to study, among other things, the constellation Orion: Astrogalaxy, Google Sky, Google Earth service.

Note:

(Alpha Big Dog ; αCMa, Sirius). The brightest star in the constellation Canis Major and the brightest star in the sky. It is a visual binary star with an orbital period of 50 years, whose main component (A) is an A star, and the second component (B, Puppy) is an 8th magnitude white dwarf. Sirius B was first observed optically in 1862 and its type was determined from its spectrum in 1925. Sirius is 8.7 light-years away from us and ranks seventh in proximity to the solar system. The name is inherited from the ancient Greeks and means "scorching", which emphasizes the brilliance of the star. In connection with the name of the constellation to which Sirius belongs, it is also called the "Dog Star". The third star, a brown dwarf, is closer to (A) than component (B), discovered by French astronomers in 1995.
(Alpha Bootes, α Boo, Arcturus). The brightest star in the constellation Bootes, the orange giant, K-star, is the fourth brightest star in the sky. Double, variable. The name is of Greek origin and means "bear's keeper". Arcturus was the first star to be seen by day with a telescope by the French astronomer and astrologer Morin in 1635.
(Alpha Lyrae; α Lyr, Vega). The brightest star in the constellation Lyra and the fifth brightest star in the sky. This is an A-star. In 2005, the Spitzer Space Telescope took images of Vega, as well as the surrounding dust in the infrared spectrum. A planetary system is formed around the star.
(Alpha Aurigae; α Aur, Chapel). The brightest star in the constellation Auriga, a spectroscopic binary in which the main component is giant G-star. Her name is of Latin origin and means "little goat".
(Beta Orionis; β Ori, Rigel). The brightest star in the constellation Orion. The Greek letter Beta is used for its designation, although it is slightly brighter than Betelgeuse, designated Alpha Orionis. Rigel is a supergiant, B-star with a 7th magnitude companion. The name, which is of Arabic origin, means "giant's foot".
(Alpha Small Dog; αCMi, Procyon). The brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor. Procyon is the fifth brightest of all stars. In 1896, J. M. Scheberl discovered that Procyon is a binary system. The main companion is a normal F star and the weak companion is an 11th magnitude white dwarf. The circulation period of the system is 41 years. The name Procyon is of Greek origin and means "before the dog" (a reminder that the star rises before the "Dog Star", i.e. Sirius).
(Alpha Eagle; α Aql, Altair). The brightest star in the constellation Aquila. Arabic word"Altair" means "flying eagle". Altair - A-star. This is one of the closest among the brightest stars (located at a distance of 17 light years).
(Alpha Orion; a Ori, Betelgeuse). A red supergiant, an M star, is one of the largest known stars. Using point interferometry and other interference methods, it was possible to measure its diameter, which turned out to be equal to about 1000 solar diameters. The presence of large bright "star spots" was also detected. Ultraviolet observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope have shown that Betelgeuse is surrounded by a vast chromosphere, approximately twenty solar masses. Variable. The brightness varies irregularly between values of 0.4 and 0.9 with a period of about five years. It is noteworthy that during the observation period from 1993 to 2009, the diameter of the star decreased by 15%, from 5.5 astronomical units to approximately 4.7, and astronomers cannot yet explain what this is connected with. At the same time, the brightness of the star did not change noticeably during this time.
(Alpha Taurus; α Tau, Aldebaran). The brightest star in the constellation Taurus. The Arabic name means “next” (i.e. following the Pleiades). Aldebaran - giant K-star. Variable. Although in the sky the star looks like part of the Hyades cluster, in fact it is not a member of it, being twice as close to Earth. In 1997, it was reported that it had a possible satellite - a large planet (or a small brown dwarf), with a mass equal to 11 Jupiter masses at a distance of 1.35 AU. Unmanned spacecraft Pioneer 10 heading towards Aldebaran. If nothing happens to it along the way, it will reach the region of the star in about 2 million years.
(Alpha Scorpio; a Sco, Antares). The brightest star in the constellation Scorpio. Red supergiant, M-star, variable, double The name is of Greek origin and means “competitor of Mars”, which is reminiscent of the wonderful color of this star. Antares is a semi-regular variable star whose brightness varies between magnitudes 0.9 and 1.1 over a period of five years. It has a blue companion star of 6th magnitude, only 3 arc seconds distant. Antares B was discovered during one of these occultations on April 13, 1819. The orbital period of the satellite is 878 years.
(Virgo Alpha; αVir, spica). The brightest star in the constellation Virgo. This is an eclipsing binary, a variable whose brightness varies by about 0.1 magnitude with a period of 4.014 days. The main component is a blue-white B star with a mass of about eleven solar masses. The name means "corn cob".
(Beta Gemini; β Gem, Pollux). The brightest star in the constellation Gemini, although its designation is Beta, not Alpha. It seems unlikely that Pollux has become brighter since Bayer (1572-1625). Pollux is an orange giant, a K-star. In classical mythology, the twins Castor and Pollux were the sons of Leda. In 2006, an exoplanet was discovered around the star.
(Southern Pisces Alpha; α PsA,
(Epsilon Canis Major; ε CMa, Adara). The second brightest (after Sirius) star in the constellation Canis Major, a giant B-star. Has a 7.5 m companion star. The Arabic name for the star means "virgin". Approximately 4.7 million years ago, the distance from ε Canis Majoris to the Earth was 34 light years, and the star was the brightest in the sky, its brightness was −4.0 m

(Alpha Gemini; a Gem, Castor). The second brightest in the constellation of Gemini after Pollux. Its naked-eye magnitude is estimated at 1.6, but this is the combined brightness of a multiple system of at least six components. There are two A-stars of magnitudes 2.0 and 2.9, forming a close visual pair, each of which is a spectroscopic binary, and a more distant red star of 9th magnitude, which is an eclipsing binary.

(Gamma Orionis; γ Ori, Bellatrix). Giant, B-star, variable, double. The name has latin origin and means "warrior woman". One of the 57 navigational stars of antiquity

(Beta Taurus; β Tau, Nat). The second brightest in the constellation Taurus, lying on the tip of one of the bull's horns. The name comes from the Arabic expression "butting with horns". This star on ancient maps depicted the right leg of a human figure in the constellation Auriga and had another designation, Gamma Auriga. Elnat is a B-star.

(Epsilon Orionis; ε Ori, Alnilam). One of the three bright stars that make up Orion's belt. The Arabic name translates as "string of pearls". Alnilam - supergiant, B-star, variable

(Zeta Orionis; ζ Ori, Alnitak). One of the three bright stars that make up Orion's belt. The Arabic name translates as "belt". Alnitak is a supergiant, O-star, triple star.

(Epsilon Ursa Major; εUMa, Aliot). The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major. The Greek letters in this case are assigned to the stars in the order of their position, not brightness. Alioth - A-star, possibly has a planet 15 times more massive than Jupiter.

(Alpha Ursa Major; αUMa, Dubhe). One of the two stars (the second - Merak) of the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, called Pointers. Giant, K-star, variable. The 5th magnitude companion revolves around it with a period of 44 years. Dubhe, literally "bear", is a shortened version of the Arabic name meaning "the back of a larger bear".

(Alpha Perseus;α Per, Mirfak). The brightest star in the constellation Perseus. Yellow supergiant, F-star, variable. The name, of Arabic origin, means "elbow".

(This Big Dipper; ηUMa, Benetnash). The star at the end of the tail. B-star, variable. The Arabic name means “leader of mourners” (for the Arabs, the constellation was seen as a hearse, not a bear).

(Beta Canis Major; βCM, Mirzam). The second brightest in the constellation Canis Major. The giant B-star, variable, is the prototype of a class of weakly variable stars like Beta Canis Majoris. Its brightness changes every six hours by several hundredths of a magnitude. Such low level variability is not visible to the naked eye.

(Alpha Hydra; αHya, Alphard). The brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The name is of Arabic origin and means "secluded snake". Alphard - K-star, variable, triple.

(Alpha Ursa Minor; αUMi, Polar). The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, located near the north celestial pole (at a distance of less than one degree). Polaris is the closest Delta Cephei pulsating variable star to Earth with a period of 3.97 days. But Polaris is a very non-standard Cepheid: its pulsations decay over a period of about tens of years: in 1900, the change in brightness was ± 8%, and in 2005 - approximately 2%. In addition, during this time, the star became on average 15% brighter.

It is pleasant to look at the sky not only for complete romantics and meticulous scientists. Every person from time to time likes to watch one of the most beautiful phenomena of our universe - bright stars. And therefore, it will be interesting for everyone to find out which luminaries are distinguished by the greatest radiance.

Sirius

Without a doubt, the brightest star in the night sky is Sirius. She ranks first in her brilliance. It is located in the constellation Canis Major and is well observed in the Northern Hemisphere in winter. Residents of the Southern Hemisphere can see it during the summer months, north of the Arctic Circle. Sirius is located approximately 8.6 light years from the Sun and is one of the brightest stars closest to us.

The brilliance of Sirius is a consequence of the proximity of the star to the solar system. It is one of the favorite objects for observation by amateur astronomers. Sirius is equal to 1.46 m.

Sirius is the brightest northern star. As early as the 19th century, astronomers noticed that its trajectory, although it is straight, is still subject to periodic fluctuations. Astronomers began to guess that some hidden luminary revolving around Sirius with a period of about 50 years was responsible for these deviations in the trajectory. 18 years after this bold assumption, a small star of 8.4 m was found near Sirius, belonging to the category of white dwarfs.

canopus

For the first time, the ancient Greek scientist Hipparchus began to think about what is the brightest star in the sky. Its classification was proposed 22 centuries ago. Hipparchus was the first to divide the luminaries according to their brightness into 6 magnitudes. The two brightest - Sirius and Canopus - minus the first magnitude. Canopus is second in brightness after Sirius, but is much less known. Apparently, for the reason that it is best observed from the southern hemisphere. From the northern territories, Canopus is observed only in subtropical latitudes.

For example, in Europe it is noticeable only from the south of Greece, and in countries former USSR only residents of Turkmenistan can admire it. The astronomers of Australia and New Zealand were the most fortunate in this respect. Here Canopus can be observed throughout the year.

According to scientists, the luminosity of Canopus is 15,000 times higher than the sun, which is a huge indicator. This luminary played big role in navigation.

Currently, Canopus is a white supergiant, located at a considerable distance from Earth - about 310 light years, or 2.96 quadrillion kilometers.

Vega

Looking warm summer evenings in the sky, you can see a bright bluish-white dot. This is Vega - one of the most visible only in the Northern Hemisphere.

Vega is not only the main one in the constellation Lyra. She is the main luminary throughout all summer months. It is very convenient to observe from the Northern Hemisphere due to its location. From the end of spring to mid-autumn, she is the most prominent luminary.

As with many other stars, many ancient legends are associated with Vega. For example, on Far East there is a legend that Vega is a princess who fell in love with common man(which is represented in the sky by the star Altair). The girl's father, having learned about this, was angry, forbidding her to see an ordinary mortal. And in fact, Vega is separated from Altair by foggy milky way. Only once a year, according to legend, forty thousand form a heavenly bridge with their wings, and lovers have the opportunity to reunite. Later, the tears of the princess are shed on the ground - this is how the legend explains the meteor shower from the Perseid shower.

Vega is 2 times heavier than the Sun. The luminosity of the star is 37 times that of the sun. Vega has such a huge mass that it will exist in its current state as a white star for another 1 billion years.

Arcturus

It is one of the brightest stars that can be observed from almost anywhere on Earth. In intensity it is second only to Sirius, Canopus, and also to the double luminary Alpha Centauri. A star is 110 times brighter than the Sun. located in

Unusual legend

Arcturus owes its name to the constellation Ursa Major. Translated from ancient Greek, the word "arcturus" means "guardian of the bear." According to the myth, Zeus settled him in place so that he would guard the nymph Callisto, who was turned into a bear by the goddess Hera. On the Arabic Arcturus is called differently - "Haris-as-sama", which means "guardian of heaven."

AT northern latitudes star can be seen all year round.

Alpha Centauri

Another of the brightest stars known to astronomers since ancient times is Alpha Centauri. It is part of However, in reality it is not one star - it includes three components: the stars of Centauri A (also known as Toliman), Centauri B and the red dwarf Proxima Centauri.

In terms of age, Alpha Centauri is 2 billion years older than our solar system - this group of stars is about 6 billion years old, while the Sun is only 4.5 billion years old. The characteristics of these luminaries are as close as possible.

If you look at Alpha Centauri without special equipment, then it is impossible to distinguish the star A from B - it is thanks to this union that the impressive radiance of the star is achieved. However, it is worth arming yourself with an ordinary telescope, as a small distance between two celestial bodies becomes noticeable. The light emitted by the luminaries reaches our planet in 4.3 years. On modern spaceship you can get to Alpha Centauri in 1.1 million years, so this is hardly possible in the near future. In summer, the luminary can be seen in Florida, Texas, and Mexico.

Betelgeuse

This luminary belongs to the category of red supergiants. The mass of Betelgeuse, or Alpha Orion, is about 13-17 solar masses, and its radius is 1200 times greater than the solar one.

Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is 530 light years away from Earth. Its luminosity is 140,000 times higher than that of the Sun.

This red supergiant is one of the largest and brightest stars today. If Betelgeuse were in the central part of the solar system, then its surface would absorb several planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. It is assumed that the age of Betelgeuse is only about 10 million years. Now the light is on late stage its evolution, and scientists suggest that in the next few million years it will explode and turn into a supernova.

Procyon

The star Procyon is one of the brightest stars. It is the alpha of Canis Minor. In fact, Procyon consists of two luminaries - the second is called Gomeiza. Both of them can be observed without additional optics. The origin of the name "Procyon" is also very interesting. It was based on a long-term observation of starry sky. This word literally translates as " before Dog", and a more literary translation sounds like" a harbinger of a dog. The Arab peoples called Procyon "Sirius shedding tears." All these names have a direct connection with Sirius, who was worshiped by many ancient peoples. It is not surprising that over time, astrologers and priests discovered the harbinger of Sirius appearing in the sky - Procyon. It appears in the sky 40 minutes earlier, as if running ahead. If you depict the constellation Canis Minor in the figure, it turns out that Procyon is in his hind legs.

The star is located very close to the Earth - of course, this distance can only be called small by cosmic standards. It is separated from us by 11.41 light years. It moves towards the solar system at a tremendous speed - 4500 m per second. Procyon shines like 8 of our Suns, and its radius is no less than 1.9 of the radius of our star.

Astronomers classify it as a subgiant star. According to the brightness of the glow, scientists concluded that nuclear reaction between hydrogen and helium in its depths no longer occurs. Scientists are convinced that the expansion process of the star has already begun. Through very long time Procyon will become a red giant.

Polaris - the brightest star of Ursa

This light is very unusual. First of all, the fact that it is closer than others to the north pole of the planet is worth attention. And due to the daily rotation of the Earth, the stars move, as it were, around the Polar Star. For this reason, it is often called Northern. Concerning South Pole, then there are no such luminaries near it. In ancient times, the axis of the planet was directed to another sphere of the sky, and Vega occupied the place of the North Star.

Those who are interested in what is the brightest star in the sky, observed from the Northern Hemisphere, should know: Polaris cannot be called such. However, it is easy to find it if you extend the line connecting the two luminaries of the Ursa Major bucket. Polaris is the very last star in the bucket handle of this constellation's neighbor, Ursa Minor. The brightest star in this cluster is also this luminary.

Ursa Major is also of interest to astronomers. It is easy to see due to the shape of the bucket, which is clearly visible in the sky. The brightest star in the constellation is Alioth. In reference books, it is denoted by the letter epsilon, and it ranks 31st in brightness among all visible luminaries.

Now, as in the days of the ancient astronomers, a common person can observe stars from the surface of the earth. However, it is quite possible that our great-grandchildren will be able to go to the brightest luminaries and learn much more interesting and entertaining information about them.

Imagining the starry sky, surely everyone has in mind the thought of thousands of stars of the same type shining on the boundless dark canvas of our planet. Not at all, in industrial cities, due to pollution, it is difficult to see that the flickering luminaries seriously differ not only in size, distance from the Earth, but also in power. If you want to see this difference, we advise you to watch an amazing spectacle in nature, in an open area far from the city. We will tell you where you need to look to see them, and finally answer the question - " What is the brightest star in the sky?".

10 brightest stars in the sky

Every star has its own story life cycle and stages of formation. They differ in color and strength. For example, some of them are capable of igniting a nuclear fusion reaction. Amazing, isn't it? And one of the most powerful, unusual and bright is the star Achernar, located 139 light years from our world. We are talking about a blue star, the brightness of which exceeds the sun by 3000 times. Features fast rotation and high temperature. Due to the speed of movement, its equatorial radius is approximately 56% larger than the polar one.

Even brighter and more powerful shines a red star called Betelgeuse. It is the hottest in its class. Experts suggest that this will not last long, because sooner or later hydrogen will run out and Betelgeuse will switch to helium. It is worth noting that the temperature is not too high, only 3500K, but it shines about 100,000 times brighter than the Sun. It is located about 600 light years from Earth. Over the next million years, the star should go supernova, and it is likely to become the brightest. Perhaps our descendants will be able to see it even during the day.

Next among the brightest stars is an F-class celestial body called Procyon. A fairly modest star in its parameters, which today is on the verge of depleting hydrogen reserves. In terms of its dimensions, it is only 40% larger than the Sun, however, in terms of evolution, the subgiant shines 7 times more saturated and brighter. Why did Procyon get such a high place in the ranking, because there are more powerful luminaries? The fact is that it is brighter than the Sun, taking into account 11.5 light years from us. This must be taken into account, if it were closer, we would have to pay more attention to the creation of lenses in sunglasses.

One of the brightest stars on the planet, the power of which can be full force evaluate only from Orion. An even more distant star, located 860 years from the planet. In this case, the core temperature is 12,000 degrees. It must be said that Rigel is not one of the main sequence stars. However, the blue giant is 120,000 times brighter than the sun. To give you an idea, if the star were at a distance from our planet, like Mercury, we would not be able to see anything. However, even in the territory of Orion, it blinds.

Speaking of unusual stars, Capella is the undisputed leader. Why is the heavenly body so unique? The fact is that this star represents two surfaces at once, the temperature of each of which more sun. At the same time, supergiants are 78 times brighter. They are 42 light years away. A combination of two stars is easy enough to spot on a clear day, or rather night. However, only knowledgeable people will be able to understand what this miracle looks like in heaven. Probably, you have already understood what names determine many terms in Russian, and not only.

For many people, Vega is associated with an Internet provider, and for moviegoers, the house of aliens (the film "Contact"). In fact, Vega is a bright star located 25 light years from Earth. Its age is 500 million years. Today, astronomers use it as a null star, that is, zero magnitude. Among all the luminaries of class A, it is considered the most powerful. At the same time, it is about 40 times brighter than the sun. In our sky, it is the fifth brightest, and in the northern part of the hemisphere it is inferior in this parameter to only one unique star, which will be discussed later.

The only orange star in this ranking, on the scale of evolution, located between Capella and Procyon. The brightest star in the northern hemisphere of the planet. If you want to have an idea of its placement, focus on the handle of the Big Dipper bucket. It is always within a given constellation. Brighter than the sun about 170 times. Within its further development should be a lot stronger. It is located approximately 37 light years away.

We are talking about a triple system, each member of which is similar in its parameters to the sun. It's funny, but all the participants in the Alpha Centauri system are much dimmer, any of the stars presented in the ranking of the brightest. However, the system is close enough to Earth that its illumination is noticeable even in a city. The distance is 4.4 light years. Well, it's time to talk about the most unique celestial bodies of this top. Surely, many are now aware of the choice of astrologers who spend years on end spending their time studying truly intangible objects.