"Capella Capella, also designated Alpha Aurigae (α Aurigae, abbreviated Alpha Aur, α Aur), is the brightest point of light in the constellation of Auriga, the sixth-brightest in the night sky, and the third-brightest in the northern celestial hemisphere after Arcturus and Vega. A prominent object in the winter sky of the northern hemisphere, it is circumpolar to observers north of 44°N. Its name meaning ""little goat"" in Latin, Capella depicted the goat Amalthea that suckled Zeus in classical mythology. The Capella system is relatively close, at only from the Sun. Although it appears to be a single star to the"
"Beta Boötis Beta Boötis (β Boötis, abbreviated Beta Boo, β Boo), also named Nekkar, is a star in the northern constellation of Boötes. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.5, making it one of the brighter members of the constellation. In the modern constellation, it marks the head of Boötis the herdsman. Based upon parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, this star is approximately from the Sun. At that distance, the magnitude of the star is reduced by 0.06 from extinction caused by intervening gas and dust. ""β Boötis"" (Latinised to ""Beta Boötis"") is the star's Bayer designation."
"Pistol Star The Pistol Star is a blue hypergiant star; one of the most luminous known in the Milky Way. It is one of many massive young stars in the Quintuplet cluster in the Galactic Center region. The star owes its name to the shape of the Pistol Nebula, which it illuminates. It is located approximately 25,000 light years from Earth in the direction of Sagittarius. It would be visible to the naked eye as a fourth magnitude star if it were not for the interstellar dust that completely hides it from view in visible light. The Pistol Star was"
"picked the star in Corvus, and which is the mascot of Superman's high school, the Smallville Crows. Corvus (constellation) Corvus is a small constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere. Its name means ""raven"" in Latin. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it depicts a raven, a bird associated with stories about the god Apollo, perched on the back of Hydra the water snake. The four brightest stars, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Beta Corvi, form a distinctive quadrilateral in the night sky. With an apparent magnitude of 2.59, Gamma Corvi—also known as Gienah—is the brightest star"
"4 Andromedae 4 Andromedae, abbreviated 4 And, is a single star in the northern constellation of Andromeda. ""4 Andromedae"" is the Flamsteed designation. It is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.308. Based upon an annual parallax shift of as seen from Earth's orbit, it is located 337 light years away. The star is moving closer with a heliocentric radial velocity of −11 km/s. It has a magnitude 11.7 visual companion at an angular separation of along a position angle of 348°, as of 2002. At the age of 2.2 billion years, this is"
"Corvus (constellation) Corvus is a small constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere. Its name means ""raven"" in Latin. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it depicts a raven, a bird associated with stories about the god Apollo, perched on the back of Hydra the water snake. The four brightest stars, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Beta Corvi, form a distinctive quadrilateral in the night sky. With an apparent magnitude of 2.59, Gamma Corvi—also known as Gienah—is the brightest star in the constellation. It is an aging blue giant around four times as massive as the Sun."
"Omicron Boötis Omicron Boötis (ο Boötis) is a yellow-hued star in the northern constellation of Boötes. With an apparent visual magnitude of +4.60, it is a fifth magnitude star that is visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.42 mas as seen from the Earth, it is located about 243 light years from the Sun. The star is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −9 km/s. At the age of 2.72 billion years, this is an evolved G-type giant star with a stellar classification of G8.5 III. It belongs to the"
"Iota Herculis Iota Herculis (ι Herculis, ι Her) is a fourth-magnitude variable star system in the constellation Hercules, consisting of at least four stars all about away. The brightest is a β Cephei variable, a pulsating star. Iota Herculis is dim enough that in cities with a lot of light pollution it is unlikely to be visible with the naked eye. In rural areas it will usually be visible, and for much of the northern hemisphere the star is circumpolar and visible year around. As a visible star, the proximity of Iota Herculis to the precessional path the Earth's North"
"Zeta Pegasi Zeta Pegasi (ζ Pegasi, abbreviated Zeta Peg, ζ Peg), also named Homam, is a single star in the northern constellation of Pegasus. With an apparent visual magnitude of +3.4, this star is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye and is one of the brighter members of Pegasus. Parallax measurements place it at a distance of around from the Sun. ""ζ Pegasi"" (Latinised to ""Zeta Pegasi"") is the star's Bayer designation. It bore the traditional name ""Homam"", meaning ""Man of High Spirit"" or ""Lucky Star of High Minded"". In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a"
"Epsilon Pegasi Epsilon Pegasi (ε Pegasi, abbreviated Epsilon Peg, ε Peg), also named Enif (EE-nif), is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Pegasus. With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.4, this is a second-magnitude star that is readily visible to the naked eye. The distance to this star can be estimated using parallax measurements from the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, yielding a value of around . ""ε Pegasi"" (Latinised to ""Epsilon Pegasi"") is the star's Bayer designation. It bore the traditional name ""Enif"" derived from the Arabic word for 'nose', due to its position as the muzzle of Pegasus."
"Upsilon Boötis Upsilon Boötis (υ Boötis) is a single, orange-hued star in the northern constellation of Boötes. It is a fourth magnitude star that is visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 12.38 mas as seen from the Earth, it is located about 263 light years from the Sun. The star is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −6 km/s. This is an evolved K-type giant star with a stellar classification of K5.5 III. Astroseismology was used to obtain a mass estimate of 1.11 times the mass of the Sun, while"
"link to the Taurid shower remains unconfirmed and may be a chance correlation. Another such shower is the Gamma Bootids, which were hypothesized in 2006. Gamma Bootids have an entry velocity of 50.3 km/s. The Nu Bootids, hypothesized in 2012, have faster meteors, with an entry velocity of 62.8 km/s. Citations References Boötes Boötes is a constellation in the northern sky, located between 0° and +60° declination, and 13 and 16 hours of right ascension on the celestial sphere. The name comes from the Greek Βοώτης, ""Boōtēs"", meaning “herdsman” or “plowman” (literally, “ox-driver”; from βοῦς ""bous"" “cow”). One of the"
"Lambda Muscae Lambda Muscae (λ Mus, λ Muscae), often catalogued HD 102249 or HIP 57363, is the fourth-brightest star in the Southern Hemisphere constellation of Musca (the Fly). Lambda Muscae visibly makes up the far end of the tail of the visual Musca constellation. It is a star in a dual system according to studies, and one of the stars catalogued in astronomer Johann Bayer's 1603 publications ""Uranometria"". Lambda Muscae more recently has been recorded as having a stellar classification of A7III. Thus, Lambda Muscae has a white tint and burns significantly hotter than the Sun. Based on research done"
"Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, also designated Alpha Orionis (α Orionis, abbreviated Alpha Ori, α Ori), is on average the ninth-brightest star in the night sky and second-brightest in the constellation of Orion. It is distinctly reddish, and is a semiregular variable star whose apparent magnitude varies between 0.0 and 1.3, the widest range of any first-magnitude star. Betelgeuse is one of three stars that make up the asterism of the Winter Triangle, and it marks the center of the Winter Hexagon. If the human eye could view all wavelengths of radiation, Betelgeuse would be the brightest star in the night sky. Classified"
"4 Ursae Majoris 4 Ursae Majoris (sometimes abbreviated 4 Uma) is the Flamsteed designation of a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It also bears the Bayer designation of Pi² Ursae Majoris (Pi² UMa, π² Ursae Majoris, π² UMa) and is traditionally named Muscida. With an apparent visual magnitude of +4.6, this star is visible from suburban or darker skies based upon the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale. From parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, this star is at a distance of from Earth. , one extrasolar planet has been confirmed to be orbiting the star. This star"
"barium, which may be the result of the S-process of nucleosynthesis in the outer atmosphere of the star. It has a relatively high peculiar velocity of . \end{align}</math></ref> Epsilon Pegasi Epsilon Pegasi (ε Pegasi, abbreviated Epsilon Peg, ε Peg), also named Enif (EE-nif), is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Pegasus. With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.4, this is a second-magnitude star that is readily visible to the naked eye. The distance to this star can be estimated using parallax measurements from the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, yielding a value of around . ""ε Pegasi"" (Latinised to ""Epsilon"
"disk. At least four of the fifteen stars visible to the unaided eye are orange giants of spectral class K. The second brightest star in the constellation—at apparent magnitude 4.1—is Zeta Telescopii, an orange subgiant of spectral type K1III-IV. Around 1.53 times as massive as the Sun, it shines with 512 times its luminosity. Located 127 light years away from Earth, it has been described as yellow or reddish in appearance. Epsilon Telescopii is a binary star system: the brighter component, Epsilon Telescopii A, is an orange giant of spectral type K0III with an apparent magnitude of +4.52, while the"
"interferometric measurements give a size of about 38 times the Sun's radius. It is radiating about 332 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,920 K. Upsilon Boötis Upsilon Boötis (υ Boötis) is a single, orange-hued star in the northern constellation of Boötes. It is a fourth magnitude star that is visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 12.38 mas as seen from the Earth, it is located about 263 light years from the Sun. The star is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −6"
"(not shown on the main map as it is located below the map's southeastern corner, north is up). Instead, the brightest star is Epsilon Sagittarii (ε Sgr) (""Kaus Australis,"" or ""southern part of the bow""), at magnitude 1.85. Sigma Sagittarii (σ Sgr) (""Nunki"") is the constellation's second-brightest star at magnitude 2.08. Nunki is a B2V star approximately 260 light years away. ""Nunki"" is a Babylonian name of uncertain origin, but thought to represent the sacred Babylonian city of Eridu on the Euphrates, which would make Nunki the oldest star name currently in use. Zeta Sagittarii (ζ Sgr) (""Ascella""), with apparent"
"Pegasus (constellation) Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 constellations recognised today. With an apparent magnitude varying between 2.37 and 2.45, the brightest star in Pegasus is the orange supergiant Epsilon Pegasi, also known as Enif, which marks the horse's muzzle. Alpha (Markab), Beta (Scheat), and Gamma (Algenib), together with Alpha Andromedae (Alpheratz, once also designated Delta Pegasi) form the large asterism known as the ""Square of Pegasus"". Twelve star systems"
"the ROSAT satellite was used to observe an X-ray flare on Beta Boötis, which released an estimated . This was the first such observation for a low-activity star of this type. The flare may be explained by an as yet unobserved M-type dwarf companion star. Beta Boötis Beta Boötis (β Boötis, abbreviated Beta Boo, β Boo), also named Nekkar, is a star in the northern constellation of Boötes. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.5, making it one of the brighter members of the constellation. In the modern constellation, it marks the head of Boötis the herdsman. Based upon"
"and moved off the main sequence. It is times as massive as the Sun, but has expanded to times its diameter and is around 170 times as luminous. ""α Boötis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Boötis"") is the star's Bayer designation. The traditional name ""Arcturus"" derives from Ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (""Arktouros"") and means ""Guardian of the Bear"", ultimately from ἄρκτος (""arktos""), ""bear"" and οὖρος (""ouros""), ""watcher, guardian"". It has been known by this name since at least the time of Hesiod. The Greek name is a reference to its being the brightest star in the constellation next to Ursa Major, the Greater"
"the southwest of Beta Pegasi, the nearest bright star. Lambda Pegasi Lambda Pegasi (λ Peg, λ Pegasi) is a fourth-magnitude star in the constellation Pegasus. λ Pegasi is a yellow giant with stellar classification G8II-III. With a mass of and radius that is , the star boasts a bolometric luminosity that is roughly . Its apparent magnitude was calibrated in 1983 at 3.96, yielding an intrinsic brightness of -1.45. Parallax calculations place the star at a distance of roughly 112 parsecs from Earth, or 365 ± 10 light years away, about three times the distance of its line-of-sight double μ"
"the North Star. Polaris, the brightest star in the constellation, is a yellow-white supergiant and the brightest Cepheid variable star in the night sky, ranging from an apparent magnitude of 1.97 to 2.00. Beta Ursae Minoris, also known as Kochab, is an aging star that has swollen and cooled to become an orange giant with an apparent magnitude of 2.08, only slightly fainter than Polaris. Kochab and magnitude 3 Gamma Ursae Minoris have been called the ""guardians of the pole star"". Planets have been detected orbiting four of the stars, including Kochab. The constellation also contains an isolated neutron star—Calvera—and"
"Northern Cross (asterism) The Northern Cross is a prominent astronomical asterism in the northern hemisphere celestial sphere, corresponding closely with the constellation Cygnus The Swan. It is much larger than the more famous Southern Cross and consists of the brightest stars in Cygnus, Deneb, Sadr, Gienah, Delta Cygni and Albireo. The 'head' of the cross, Deneb, is also part of the Summer Triangle asterism. Like the Summer Triangle, the Northern Cross is a prominent indicator of the seasons. Near midnight, the Cross lies virtually overhead at mid-northern latitudes during the summer months; it can also be seen during spring in"
"Beta Andromedae Beta Andromedae (β Andromedae, abbreviated Beta And, β And), also named Mirach, is a prominent star in the northern constellation of Andromeda. It is northeast of the Great Square of Pegasus and is theoretically visible to all observers north of 54° S. It is commonly used by stargazers to find the Andromeda Galaxy. The galaxy NGC 404, also known as Mirach's Ghost, is seven arc minutes away from Mirach. This star has an average apparent visual magnitude of 2.05, making it the brightest star in the constellation. The luminosity varies slightly from magnitude +2.01 to +2.10. Based upon"
"Beta Hydri Beta Hydri (β Hyi, β Hydri) is a star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Hydrus. (Note that Hydrus is not the same as Hydra.) With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.8, this is the brightest star in the constellation. Based upon parallax measurements the distance to this star is about . This star has about 104% of the mass of the Sun and 181% of the Sun's radius, with more than three times the Sun's luminosity. The spectrum of this star matches a stellar classification of G2 IV, with the luminosity class of 'IV' indicating this is"
"has a peculiar velocity roughly three times higher than its neighbors. Nu Hydrae was a later designation of 4 Crateris. Nu Hydrae Nu Hydrae, Latinized from ν Hydrae, is an orange-hued star in the constellation Hydra, near the border with the neighboring constellation of Crater. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.115, which is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements, this star is located at a distance of about from the Earth. The spectrum of this star matches a stellar classification of K0/K1 III, where the luminosity class of 'III' indicates this"
"(), meaning ""Snake's Head"", refers to an asterism consisting of α Hydri and β Reticuli. Consequently, α Hydri itself is known as (, .) Alpha Hydri Alpha Hydri (α Hyi, α Hydri) is the second brightest star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Hydrus. It is readily visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +2.9. It is sometimes informally known as the Head of Hydrus. This should not be confused with Alpha Hydrae (Alphard) in the constellation Hydra. Alpha Hydri is one of only three stars in the constellation Hydrus that are above the fourth visual"
"NGC 4889 NGC 4889 (also known as Coma B) is an E4 supergiant elliptical galaxy. It was discovered in 1785 by the British astronomer Frederick William Herschel I, who catalogued it as a bright, nebulous patch. The brightest galaxy within the northern Coma Cluster, it is located at a median distance of 94 million parsecs (308 million light years) from Earth. At the core of the galaxy is a supermassive black hole that heats the intracluster medium through the action of friction from infalling gases and dust. The gamma ray bursts from the galaxy extend out to several million light"
"star he designated in the neighbouring constellation Crater—31 Crateris—lay within Corvus once the constellation boundaries were established in 1930. Within the constellation's borders, there are 29 stars brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5. Four principal stars, Delta, Gamma, Epsilon, and Beta Corvi, form a quadrilateral asterism known as ""the ""Spica's Spanker"" or ""the Sail"". Although none of the stars are particularly bright, they lie in a dim area of the sky, rendering the asterism easy to distinguish in the night sky. Gamma and Delta serve as pointers toward Spica. Also called Gienah, Gamma is the brightest star in"
"Betelgeuse"" by Robert R. Chase and ""Calculating God"" by Robert J. Sawyer, below). Betelgeuse is the eighth-brightest star in the night sky and second-brightest star in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel (Beta Orionis) only rarely. Distinctly reddish-tinted, it is a semiregular variable star whose apparent magnitude oscillates between 0.2 and 1.2, the widest range of any first magnitude star. It marks the upper right vertex of the Winter Triangle and center of the Winter Hexagon. There is considerable controversy about the Arabic language origin of the name Betelgeuse, with some dozens of possible derivations and spellings proposed"
"Alpha Hydri Alpha Hydri (α Hyi, α Hydri) is the second brightest star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Hydrus. It is readily visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +2.9. It is sometimes informally known as the Head of Hydrus. This should not be confused with Alpha Hydrae (Alphard) in the constellation Hydra. Alpha Hydri is one of only three stars in the constellation Hydrus that are above the fourth visual magnitude. This star can be readily located as it lies to the south and west of the prominent star Achernar in the constellation Eridanus."