Star Statistics

Note: (var) means that the star varies in brightness.
Apparent magnitude: brightness, as seen from Earth; the lower the magnitude, the brighter the star.
The Brightest Stars in the Sky

Name Constellation to which star belongs Apparent Magnitude
Sirius Canis Major -1.46
Canopus Carina -0.72
Rigil Kent (Alpha Centauri) Centaurus -0.27
Arcturus Bootes -0.04
Vega Lyra +0.03
Capella Auriga +0.08
Rigel Orion +0.12
Procyon Canis Minor +0.38
Achernar Eridanus +0.46
Betelgeuse Orion +0.50 (var)

Note: Proxima Centauri is part of the Alpha Centauri system.
Apparent magnitude: brightness, as seen from Earth; the lower the magnitude, the brighter the star.
The Nearest Stars

Star Distance (light-years) Apparent Magnitude
Proxima Centauri 4.2 +11.0
Alpha Centauri 4.3 -0.3
Barnard's Star 6.0 +9.5
Wolf 359 7.7 +13.5
Lalande 21185 8.2 +7.5
UV Ceti 8.4 +12.5
Sirius 8.6 -1.46
Ross 154 9.4 +10.5
Ross 248 10.4 +12.3
Epsilon Eridani 10.8 +3.7
Ross 128 10.9 +11.1


Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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