List of brightest stars explained

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.

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. 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

Rank	Visual magnitude (mV)	Proper name	Bayer designation	data-sort-type=number	Distance (ly)	Spectral type	Celestial Hemisphere
0	0.000−26.74	Sun		0.0	G2 V
1	0.001−1.46	Sirius	data-sort-value="CMa α"	α CMa	0008.6	A0mA1 Va, DA2	Southern
2	0.003−0.74	Canopus	data-sort-value="Car α"	α Car	0310	A9 II	Southern
3	0.004−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33)	Rigil Kentaurus & Toliman	data-sort-value="Cen α"	α Cen	0004.34	G2 V, K1 V	Southern
4	0.005−0.05	Arcturus	data-sort-value="Boo α"	α Boo	0037	K0 III	Northern
5	0.03 (-0.02–0.07var)	Vega	data-sort-value="Lyr α"	α Lyr	0025	A0 Va	Northern
6	0.08 (0.03–0.16var)	Capella	data-sort-value="Aur α"	α Aur	0043	K0 III, G1 III	Northern
7	0.13 (0.05–0.18var)	Rigel	data-sort-value="Ori β"	β Ori	0860	B8 Ia	Southern
8	0.34	Procyon	data-sort-value="CMi α"	α CMi	0011	F5 IV-V	Northern
9	0.46 (0.40–0.46var)	Achernar	data-sort-value="Eri α"	α Eri	0139	B3 Vpe	Southern
10	0.50 (0.0–1.6var)	Betelgeuse	data-sort-value="Ori α"	α Ori	640	M1-M2 Ia-ab	Northern
11	0.61	Hadar	data-sort-value="Cen β"	β Cen	0390	B1 III	Southern
12	0.76	Altair	data-sort-value="Aql α"	α Aql	0017	A7 V	Northern
13	0.76 (1.33 + 1.73)	Acrux	data-sort-value="Cru α"	α Cru	0320	B0.5 IV, B1 V	Southern
14	0.86 (0.75–0.95var)	Aldebaran	data-sort-value="Tau α"	α Tau	0065	K5 III	Northern
15	0.96 (0.6–1.6var)	Antares	data-sort-value="Sco α"	α Sco	0550	M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V	Southern
16	0.97 (0.97–1.04var)	Spica	data-sort-value="Vir α"	α Vir	0250	B1 III-IV, B2 V	Southern
17	1.14	Pollux	data-sort-value="Gem β"	β Gem	0034	K0 III	Northern
18	1.16	Fomalhaut	data-sort-value="PsA α"	α PsA	0025	A3 V	Southern
19	1.25 (1.21–1.29var)	Deneb	data-sort-value="Cyg α"	α Cyg	2,600	A2 Ia	Northern
20	1.25 (1.23–1.31var)	Mimosa	data-sort-value="Cru β"	β Cru	0280	B0.5 III, B2 V	Southern
21	1.39	Regulus	data-sort-value="Leo α"	α Leo	0079	B8 IVn	Northern
22	1.50	Adhara	data-sort-value="CMa ε"	ε CMa	0430	B2 II	Southern
23	1.58 (1.93 + 2.97)	Castor	data-sort-value="Gem a"	α Gem	0051	A1 V, Am	Northern
24	1.62	Shaula	data-sort-value="Sco λ"	λ Sco	0570	B2 IV	Southern
25	1.64	Gacrux	data-sort-value="Cru γ"	γ Cru	0089	M3.5 III	Southern
26	1.64	Bellatrix	data-sort-value="Ori γ"	γ Ori	0250	B2 III	Northern
27	1.65	Elnath	data-sort-value="Tau β/Aur γ"	β Tau/γ Aur	0130	B7 III	Northern
28	1.69	Miaplacidus	data-sort-value="Car β"	β Car	0110	A1 III	Southern
29	1.69 (1.64–1.74var)	Alnilam	data-sort-value="Ori ε"	ε Ori	2,000	B0 Ia	Southern
30	1.72 (1.81–1.87var + 4.27)	–	data-sort-value="Vel γ"	γ Vel	0840	WC8, O7.5III	Southern
31	1.74	Alnair	data-sort-value="Gru α"	α Gru	0100	B6 V	Southern
32	1.77	Alnitak	data-sort-value="Ori ζ"	ζ Ori	01,300	O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III	Southern
33	1.77	Alioth	data-sort-value="UMa ε"	ε UMa	0083	A1 III-IVp kB9	Northern
34	1.79	Dubhe	data-sort-value="UMa α"	α UMa	0120	K0 III, F0 V	Northern
35	1.80	Mirfak	data-sort-value="Per α"	α Per	0510	F5 Ib	Northern
36	1.82	Wezen	data-sort-value="CMa δ"	δ CMa	1,800	F8 Ia	Southern
37	1.84	Sargas	data-sort-value="Sco θ"	θ Sco	0330	F0 II	Southern
38	1.85	Kaus Australis	data-sort-value="Sgr ε"	ε Sgr	0140	B9.5 III	Southern
39	1.86	Avior	data-sort-value="Car ε"	ε Car	0600	K3 III, B2 Vp	Southern
40	1.86	Alkaid	data-sort-value="UMa η"	η UMa	0100	B3 V	Northern
41	1.90 (1.89–1.94var)	Menkalinan	data-sort-value="Aur β"	β Aur	080	A1mIV+A1mIV	Northern
42	1.91	Atria	data-sort-value="TrA α"	α TrA	0390	K2 IIb-IIIa	Southern
43	1.92	Alhena	data-sort-value="Gem γ"	γ Gem	0100	A1.5 IV+	Northern
44	1.94	Peacock	data-sort-value="Pav α"	α Pav	0180	B3 V	Southern
45	1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57)	Alsephina	data-sort-value="Vel δ"	δ Vel	0080	A1 Va(n), F7.5 V	Southern
46	1.98	Mirzam	data-sort-value="CMa β"	β CMa	0500	B1 II-III	Southern
47	2.00	Alphard	data-sort-value="Hya α"	α Hya	0180	K3 II-III	Southern
48	1.98 (1.86–2.13var)	Polaris	data-sort-value="UMi α"	α UMi	0430	F7 Ib	Northern
49	2.00	Hamal	data-sort-value="Ari α"	α Ari	0066	K1 IIIb	Northern
50	2.08 (2.37 + 3.64)	Algieba	data-sort-value="Leo γ"	γ Leo	0130	K0 III, G7 IIIb	Northern
51	2.02	Diphda	data-sort-value="Cet β"	β Cet	0096	K0 III	Southern
52	2.04	Mizar	data-sort-value="UMa ζ"	ζ UMa	0083	A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am	Northern
53	2.05	Nunki	data-sort-value="Sgr σ"	σ Sgr	0230	B2.5 V	Southern
54	2.06	Menkent	data-sort-value="Cen θ"	θ Cen	0059	K0 III	Southern
55	2.06	Alpheratz	data-sort-value="And α/Peg δ"	α And/δ Peg	0097	B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V	Northern
56	2.07^[9] (2.01–2.10var)	Mirach	data-sort-value="And β"	β And	0200	M0 III	Northern
57	2.07	Rasalhague	data-sort-value="Oph α"	α Oph	0047	A5IVnn	Northern
58	2.08	Kochab	data-sort-value="UMi β"	β UMi	0130	K4 III	Northern
59	2.09	Saiph	data-sort-value="Ori κ"	κ Ori	0720	B0.5 Ia	Southern
60	2.11	Denebola	data-sort-value="Leo β"	β Leo	0036	A3 Va	Northern
61	2.12 (2.1–3.39var)	Algol	data-sort-value="Per β"	β Per	0093	B8 V, K0 IV, A7m	Northern
62	2.15 (2.0–2.3var)	Tiaki	data-sort-value="Gru β"	β Gru	0170	M5 III	Southern
63	2.17	Muhlifain	data-sort-value="Cen γ"	γ Cen	0130	A0 III, A0 III	Southern
64	2.21	Aspidiske	data-sort-value="Car ι"	ι Car	0690	A9 Ib	Southern
65	2.21 (2.14–2.30var)	Suhail	data-sort-value="Vel λ"	λ Vel	0570	K4 Ib	Southern
66	2.23 (2.21–2.32var)	Alphecca	data-sort-value="CrB α"	α CrB	0075	A0 V, G5 V	Northern
67	2.23 (2.23–2.35var)	Mintaka	data-sort-value="Ori δ"	δ Ori	0900	O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV	Southern
68	2.23	Sadr	data-sort-value="Cyg γ"	γ Cyg	1,500	F8 Iab	Northern
69	2.23	Eltanin	data-sort-value="Dra γ"	γ Dra	0150	K5 III	Northern
70	2.24	Schedar	data-sort-value="Cas α"	α Cas	0230	K0 IIIa	Northern
71	2.25	Naos	data-sort-value="Pup ζ"	ζ Pup	1,080	O4 If(n)p	Southern
72	2.26	Almach	data-sort-value="And γ"	γ And	0350	K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V	Northern
73	2.28 (2.25–2.31var)	Caph	data-sort-value="Cas β"	β Cas	0054	F2 III	Northern
74	2.29	Izar	data-sort-value="Boo ε"	ε Boo	0202	K0 II-III, A2 V	Northern
75	2.30 (2.29–2.34var)	—	data-sort-value="Lup α"	α Lup	0550	B1.5 III	Southern
76	2.30 (2.29–2.31var)	—	data-sort-value="Cen ε"	ε Cen	0380	B1III	Southern
77	2.31 (1.6–2.32var)	Dschubba	data-sort-value="Sco δ"	δ Sco	0400	B0.3 IV, B1-3 V	Southern
78	2.31	Larawag	data-sort-value="Sco ε"	ε Sco	0065	K1 III	Southern
79	2.35 (2.30–2.41var)	—	data-sort-value="Cen η"	η Cen	0310	B1.5 Vne	Southern
80	2.37	Merak	data-sort-value="UMa β"	β UMa	0079	A1 IVps	Northern
81	2.38	Ankaa	data-sort-value="Phe α"	α Phe	0077	K0.5 IIIb	Southern
82	2.39	Girtab	data-sort-value="Sco κ"	κ Sco	0460	B1.5 III	Southern
83	2.40 (0.7–3.0var)	Enif	data-sort-value="Peg ε"	ε Peg	0670	K2 Ib	Northern
84	2.42 (2.31–2.74var)	Scheat	data-sort-value="Peg β"	β Peg	0200	M2.5 II-IIIe	Northern
85	2.43	Sabik	data-sort-value="Oph η"	η Oph	0088	A1 IV, A1 IV	Southern
86	2.44	Phecda	data-sort-value="UMa γ"	γ UMa	0084	A0 Ve	Northern
87	2.45	Aludra	data-sort-value="CMa η"	η CMa	2,000	B5 Ia	Southern
88	2.46	Alderamin	α Cep	49.05
89	2.46	Markeb	data-sort-value="Vel κ"	κ Vel	0540	B2 IV	Southern
90	2.47 (1.6–3.0var)	–	data-sort-value="Cas γ"	γ Cas	0610	B0.5 IVe	Northern
91	2.48	Markab	data-sort-value="Peg α"	α Peg	0140	A0 IV	Northern
92	2.48	Aljanah	data-sort-value="Cyg ε"	ε Cyg	0072	K0 III-IV	Northern
93	2.50	Acrab	data-sort-value="Sco β"	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.

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Zombeck, Martin V. . Handbook of space astronomy and astrophysics . 2007 . Cambridge University Press . Third . 75, 144–145 . Cambridge, UK . 978-0-521-78242-5.
2. Computing apparent planetary magnitudes for The Astronomical Almanac . Anthony . Mallama . James L. . Hilton . Astronomy and Computing . 25 . 10–24 . October 2018 . 10.1016/j.ascom.2018.08.002 . 69912809 . 2018A&C....25...10M . 1808.01973 .
3. The Bright star catalogue. 1991. Hoffleit. Dorrit. Jaschek. Carlos. New Haven. 1991bsc..book.....H.
4. Standard Photometric Systems. Bessell. Michael S.. 2005. Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics. 43. 1. 293–336. 2005ARA&A..43..293B. 10.1146/annurev.astro.41.082801.100251. 28977639.
5. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system. Ducati. J. R.. 2002. CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2237. 2002yCat.2237....0D.
6. Book: Illingworth, Valerie. Macmillan Dictionary of Astronomy. Dictionary Series. 1979. Springer. 9781349178032. Second. London. April 1985. 237. 10.1007/978-1-349-17803-2. 965821821. 24 September 2016.
7. UBVRI Photometric Standard Stars Around the Celestial Equator: Updates and Additions. Landolt. Arlo U.. 2009. The Astronomical Journal. 137. 5. 4186–4269. 2009AJ....137.4186L. 0904.0638. 10.1088/0004-6256/137/5/4186. 118627330.
8. Web site: Naming Stars. IAU Division C WG Star Names. 12 August 2018.
9. Web site: HD 6860 NASA Exoplanet Archive . 2024-01-16 . exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu.
10. Web site: VSX : Detail for LMC V1006 . 2023-11-26 . www.aavso.org.
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 . 10.1088/0004-6256/140/2/416 . 1004.0949 . 2010AJ....140..416B . 0004-6256. 1887/61635 . 119290443 . free .
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 . 10.1088/0004-637x/703/1/441 . 0004-637X. 0907.5471 . 2009ApJ...703..441D . 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 . 10.1086/503256 . 0004-6256. free . astro-ph/0602128 . 2006AJ....131.2478M .