The brightest stars in the night sky
15. Antares
The star Antares is the 15th-brightest in the night sky. It glows red in the Scorpius constellation about 550 light-years away from Earth, and is best seen during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Often called the “heart of the Scorpion,” its fiery glow is easy to spot near the center of the Milky Way.
14. Aldebaran
Aldebaran is an orange-hued star in the constellation Taurus, and can actually be found in the bull’s eye. Clearly visible from northern skies in winter, it stands out beside a V-shaped cluster of stars called the Hyades, though it’s actually much closer.
At 65 light-years away, Aldebaran is a red giant that has grown to about 45 times the sun’s size. Aldebaran has used up all the hydrogen in its core and is slowly dying, and so its surface burns at only 6,500°F (3,600°C). In comparison, our sun’s surface burns at a temperature of 10,000°F (5,600°C).
13. Acrux
The 13th-brightest star in the night sky is Acrux, which is part of the Southern Cross. Acrux is a vivid blue-white star that can be seen only in the Southern Hemisphere. It serves as a navigation aid and is one of the southernmost stars you can spot without a telescope.
12. Altair
Altair is part of the Summer Triangle (a star pattern that also includes the stars Altair and Deneb) and found in the constellation Aquila, which is Latin for “eagle.” Bright and white, Altair is visible in summer only from the Northern Hemisphere. It also lies only 17 light-years from Earth, making it one of our closer stellar neighbors.
Altair spins incredibly quickly, completing a full rotation in less than nine hours. That speed causes the star to bulge at its middle and flatten at the poles, making it look more like an egg than a ball. Because of its shape, the star also burns hotter at its poles than its equator.
11. Hadar
Hadar (also called Beta Centauri) is a brilliant blue-white giant star in the southern constellation of Centaurus that helps guide stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere to the Southern Cross. It's one of two “Pointers” that aim toward this famous star pattern.
10. Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant that can be found in the shoulder of Orion. It glows with a reddish tint that’s easy to spot in winter skies from both hemispheres, although it’s best seen during northern winters. Betelgeuse flickers in brightness at times and can outshine many stars when it flares up.
9. Achernar
The ninth-brightest star in the night sky is Achernar, which shines brightly in the Eridanus constellation and is only visible from the Southern Hemisphere. It sits low in the sky and appears bluish-white to the naked eye.
8. Procyon
Procyon is a bright star in the small constellation Canis Minor. It rises before Sirius in the night sky and is easily spotted from the Northern Hemisphere during winter evenings.
7. Rigel
Rigel is the bright blue-white supergiant star that can be seen at the foot of the constellation Orion (bottom left). It’s clearly visible during winter from most places on Earth, and often outshines nearby stars.
6. Capella
The star Capella glows a soft golden-yellow and stands out in the constellation Auriga. It is a steady presence in the northern sky and is visible year-round for many northern observers thanks to its high position.
5. Vega
Arriving in the top five is Vega, a brilliantly bright white star in the constellation Lyra. It’s a key member of the Summer Triangle, and was once our planet’s North Star around 12,000 years ago (and it will be again in another 12,000 years).
4. Arcturus
Arcturus is a large orange giant in the constellation Boötes and is a bright, warm presence in spring and summer skies of the Northern Hemisphere. It’s one of the closest bright stars and moves quickly across the sky over time.
2. Canopus
Canopus is the second-brightest star in the night sky and can be seen low in the Southern Hemisphere’s sky. It is used by space probes for navigation, and stands out due to its steady, white brilliance.
1. Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky and twinkles blue-white in the constellation Canis Major. The star has a widespread association with dogs and wolves, and it is dubbed the Dog Star. Sirius is visible from almost everywhere on Earth, and has been known since ancient times.
