"Electra (star) Electra, also designated 17 Tauri, is a blue-white giant star in the constellation of Taurus. It is the third-brightest star in the Pleiades open star cluster (M45); the most visible stars in this group are named for the Seven Sisters of Greek mythology. The star has an apparent brightness of 3.72, the third-brightest of the stars in the group. Electra belongs to the spectral class B6 IIIe and is approximately 400 light-years from the Sun. The Pleiades cluster is thought to be 444 light-years away. The projected rotational velocity of this star is 181 km/s, making it a"
"Aldebaran Aldebaran, designated Alpha Tauri (α Tauri, abbreviated Alpha Tau, α Tau), is an orange giant star located about 65 light-years from the Sun in the zodiac constellation Taurus. It is the brightest star in its constellation and usually the fourteenth-brightest star in the night sky, though it varies slowly in brightness between magnitude 0.75 and 0.95. Aldebaran hosts a planet several times the size of Jupiter￼, named Aldebaran b. The planetary exploration probe Pioneer 10 is currently heading in the general direction of the star and should make its closest approach in about two million years. ""Alpha Tauri"" is"
"the antipodal point of Aldebaran's coordinates, at , in the constellation Ophiuchus. It would be a faint 6.4 magnitude star, dimmer than Uranus seen from Earth at 5.38. Aldebaran Aldebaran, designated Alpha Tauri (α Tauri, abbreviated Alpha Tau, α Tau), is an orange giant star located about 65 light-years from the Sun in the zodiac constellation Taurus. It is the brightest star in its constellation and usually the fourteenth-brightest star in the night sky, though it varies slowly in brightness between magnitude 0.75 and 0.95. Aldebaran hosts a planet several times the size of Jupiter￼, named Aldebaran b. The planetary"
"Alpha Fornacis Alpha Fornacis (α Fornacis, abbreviated Alpha For, α For), also designated 12 Eridani, is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Fornax. It is the brightest star in the constellation and the only one brighter than magnitude 4.0. Based on parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 46 light-years (14 parsecs) distant from the Sun. Its two components are designated Alpha Fornacis A (also named Dalim) and B. ""α Fornacis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Fornacis"") is the system's Bayer designation, ""12 Eridani"" its Flamsteed designation. The designations of the two components as ""Alpha Fornacis"
"(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"
"Achernar Achernar is the name of the primary (or 'A') component of the binary system designated Alpha Eridani (α Eridani, abbreviated Alpha Eri, α Eri), which is the brightest 'star' or point of light in, and lying at the southern tip of, the constellation of Eridanus, and the tenth-brightest in the night sky. The two components are designated Alpha Eridani A (the primary) and B (the secondary, also known informally as Achernar B). As determined by the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, it is approximately from the Sun. Of the ten apparent brightest stars in the night-time sky, Alpha Eridani is the"
"of its proximity to the Solar System. In contrast, the other bright stars of the constellation are stars of great distance and high luminosity. At magnitude 1.5, Epsilon Canis Majoris (Adhara) is the second-brightest star of the constellation and the brightest source of extreme ultraviolet radiation in the night sky. Next in brightness are the yellow-white supergiant Delta (Wezen) at 1.8, the blue-white giant Beta (Mirzam) at 2.0, blue-white supergiants Eta (Aludra) at 2.4 and Omicron at 3.0, and white spectroscopic binary Zeta (Furud), also at 3.0. The red hypergiant VY Canis Majoris is one of the largest stars known,"
"in their constellations and among the 25–brightest stars in the night sky. The Persians considered these stars to be the four guardians of the heavens. They marked the seasonal changes and marked the equinoxes and solstices. Aldebaran watched the Eastern sky and was the dominant star in the Taurus constellation, Regulus watched the North and was the dominant star in the Leo constellation, Antares watched the West and was the alpha star in Scorpio, and Fomalhaut watched the Southern sky and was the brightest star in Piscis Austrinus (sharing the same longitude with the star Sadalmelik which is the predominant"
"11th millennia, when it will be visible as far north as Germany and southern England. Achernar Achernar is the name of the primary (or 'A') component of the binary system designated Alpha Eridani (α Eridani, abbreviated Alpha Eri, α Eri), which is the brightest 'star' or point of light in, and lying at the southern tip of, the constellation of Eridanus, and the tenth-brightest in the night sky. The two components are designated Alpha Eridani A (the primary) and B (the secondary, also known informally as Achernar B). As determined by the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, it is approximately from the"
"Alpha Andromedae Alpha Andromedae (α Andromedae, abbreviated Alpha And or α And), also named Alpheratz, is located 97 light-years from the Sun and is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. Located immediately northeast of the constellation of Pegasus, it is the upper left star of the Great Square of Pegasus. Although it appears to the naked eye as a single star, with overall apparent visual magnitude +2.06, it is actually a binary system composed of two stars in close orbit. The chemical composition of the brighter of the two stars is unusual as it is a mercury-manganese star"
"the general direction of this constellation. The Beta Taurid meteor shower occurs during the months of June and July in the daytime, and is normally observed using radio techniques. Between 18 and 29 October, both the Northern Taurids and the Southern Taurids are active; though the latter stream is stronger. However, between November 1 and 10, the two streams equalize. The brightest member of this constellation is Aldebaran, an orange-hued, spectral class K5 III giant star. Its name derives from """", Arabic for ""the follower"", probably from the fact that it follows the Pleiades during the nightly motion of the"
"Antares Antares (), also designated Alpha Scorpii (α Scorpii, abbreviated Alpha Sco, α Sco), is on average the fifteenth-brightest star in the night sky, and the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. Distinctly reddish when viewed with the naked eye, Antares is a slow irregular variable star that ranges in brightness from apparent magnitude +0.6 to +1.6. Often referred to as ""the heart of the scorpion"", Antares is flanked by Sigma and Tau Scorpii in the center of the constellation. Classified as a red supergiant of spectral type M1.5Iab-Ib, Antares is the brightest, most massive, and most evolved stellar"
"Alpha Vulpeculae Alpha Vulpeculae (α Vulpeculae, abbreviated Alf Vul, α Vul), also named Anser, is the brightest star in the constellation of Vulpecula. It is approximately 297 light-years from Earth. It forms a wide optical binary with 8 Vulpeculae. Alpha Vulpeculae is a red giant of spectral class M1 and has apparent magnitude +4.4. It has been analysed as a member of the Arcturus stream, a group of stars with high proper motion and metal-poor properties thought to be the remnants of a small galaxy consumed by the Milky Way. ""α Vulpeculae"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Vulpeculae"") is the system's Bayer"
"Ara (constellation) Ara (Latin: ""The Altar"") is a southern constellation situated between Scorpius and Triangulum Australe. Ara (Greek: Βωμός) was one of the 48 Greek constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. The orange supergiant Beta Arae is the brightest star in the constellation, with an apparent magnitude of 2.85—marginally brighter than the blue-white Alpha Arae. Seven star systems are known to host planets. The sunlike star Mu Arae hosts four known planets, while Gliese 676 is a binary red dwarf system with four"
"Thuban Thuban, also designated Alpha Draconis (α Draconis, abbreviated Alpha Dra, α Dra), is a star (or star system) in the constellation of Draco. A relatively inconspicuous star in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere, it is historically significant as having been the north pole star from the 4th to 2nd millennium BC. Even though Johann Bayer gave Thuban the designation Alpha, its apparent magnitude of 3.65 means it is 3.7 times fainter than the brightest star in the constellation, Gamma Draconis (Eltanin), whose apparent magnitude is 2.24. ""α Draconis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Draconis"") is the star's Bayer designation."
"Aldebaran in fiction The planetary systems of stars other than the Sun and the Solar System are a staple element in much science fiction. Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) is a type K5 giant star in the constellation Taurus that is frequently featured in works of science fiction. There have been claims by astronomers using radial velocity measurements that Aldebaran hosts a planetary system with at least one substellar companion, but none of these has been confirmed as of 2013. Aldebaran is a popular subject for ancient myths in multiple cultures (Inuit, Mexican, Native American) and, in more recent times, the mythologizing"
"remain in use, likely because of their proximity to the north celestial pole. Within the constellation's borders, there are 39 stars brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5. Marking the Little Bear's tail, Polaris, or Alpha Ursae Minoris, is the brightest star in the constellation, varying between apparent magnitude 1.97 and 2.00 over a period of 3.97 days. Located around 432 light-years away from Earth, it is a yellow-white supergiant that varies between spectral types F7Ib and F8Ib, and has around 6 times the Sun's mass, 2,500 times its luminosity and 45 times its radius. Polaris is the brightest"
"designation. It bore the traditional name ""Anser"", derived from when the constellation had the name ""Vulpecula cum Ansere"" 'the little fox with the goose'. In 2016, the IAU organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name ""Anser"" for this star on 30 June 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names. Alpha Vulpeculae Alpha Vulpeculae (α Vulpeculae, abbreviated Alf Vul, α Vul), also named Anser, is the brightest star in the constellation of Vulpecula. It is approximately 297 light-years from Earth."
"until it reaches the termination shock boundary with the hot, ionized interstellar medium that dominates the Local Bubble, forming a roughly spherical astrosphere with a radius of around 1,000 AU, centered on Aldebaran. Aldebaran is one of the easiest stars to find in the night sky, partly due to its brightness and partly due to its spatial relation to one of the more noticeable asterisms in the sky. If one follows the three stars of Orion's belt from left to right (in the Northern Hemisphere) or right to left (in the Southern), the first bright star found by continuing that"
"Alpha Coronae Australis Alpha Coronae Australis (α Coronae Australis, abbreviated Alf CrA, α CrA), also named Meridiana, is the brightest star in the constellation of Corona Australis and is located about 125 light-years from Earth. ""α Coronae Australis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Coronae Australis"") is the star's Bayer designation. It is the only star in the constellation with a traditional proper name, ""Alphekka Meridiana"" (Latin for 'Alphekka South'), after ""Alphecca"", the brightest star in the constellation Corona Borealis. The name ""Alphecca"" or ""Alphekka"" is Arabic, short for نير الفكّة ""nayyir al-fakka"" ""the bright (star) of the broken (ring of stars)"". In"
"Gamma Draconis Gamma Draconis (γ Draconis, abbreviated Gamma Dra, γ Dra), also named Eltanin, is a star in the northern constellation of Draco. Contrary to its gamma-designation (historically third-ranked), it is the brightest star in Draco at magnitude 2.4, outshining Rastaban (Beta Draconis) by nearly half a magnitude. In 1.5 million years, Eltanin will pass within 28 light years of Earth. For a period, if its current absolute magnitude does not change, it will be the brightest star in the night sky, nearly as bright as Sirius is at present. It is by far the brightest star having a zenith"
"the right ascension coordinates of these borders lie between and , while the declination coordinates are between −45.09° and −56.98°. The whole constellation is visible to observers south of latitude 33°N. Within the constellation's borders, there are 57 stars brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5. With a magnitude of 3.5, Alpha Telescopii is the brightest star in the constellation. It is a blue-white subgiant of spectral type B3IV which lies around 250 light-years away. It is radiating nearly 800 times the Sun's luminosity, and is estimated to be 5.2±0.4 times as massive and have 3.3±0.5 times the Sun's"
"notably Deneb Kaitos, the brightest star in the constellation of Cetus; Deneb Algedi, the brightest star in Capricornus; and Denebola, the second brightest star in Leo. All these stars are referring to the tail of the animals that their respective constellations represent. ""Denebadigege"" was used in the ""Alfonsine Tables"", other variants include ""Deneb Adige"", ""Denebedigege"" and ""Arided"". This latter name was derived from ""Al Ridhādh"", a name for the constellation. Johann Bayer called it ""Arrioph"", derived from ""Aridf"" and ""Al Ridf"", 'the hindmost' or ""Gallina"". German poet and author Philippus Caesius termed it ""Os rosae"", or ""Rosemund"" in German, or"
"Alpha Persei Alpha Persei (α Persei, abbreviated Alpha Per, α Per), also named Mirfak, is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Perseus, just outshining the constellation's best known star, Algol. α Persei has an apparent visual magnitude of 1.8, and is a circumpolar star when viewed from mid-northern latitudes. Mirfak lies in the midst of a cluster of stars named as the eponymous Alpha Persei Cluster, or ""Melotte 20"", which is easily visible in binoculars and includes many of the fainter stars in the constellation. Determined distance using the trigonometric parallax, places the star from the Sun. The"
"Altair Altair () (from Arabic """"al-ṭā'ir"""") also designated Alpha Aquilae (α Aquilae, abbreviated Alpha Aql, α Aql), is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky. It is currently in the G-cloud—a nearby interstellar cloud, which is an accumulation of gas and dust. Altair is an A-type main sequence star with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.77 and is one of the vertices of the asterism known as the Summer Triangle (the other two vertices are marked by Deneb and Vega). It is 16.7 light-years (5.13 parsecs) from the Sun and"
"visual companion stars, WDS 19508+0852B, C, and D. Component B is not physically close to A but merely appears close to it in the sky. Altair Altair () (from Arabic """"al-ṭā'ir"""") also designated Alpha Aquilae (α Aquilae, abbreviated Alpha Aql, α Aql), is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky. It is currently in the G-cloud—a nearby interstellar cloud, which is an accumulation of gas and dust. Altair is an A-type main sequence star with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.77 and is one of the vertices of the asterism"
"star more than 1,300 light years away. The star system is referred to by the name ""Sirrah"" on the 2017 Ayreon record entitled The Source. On this record an alien race abandons their home planet in search of a new home world orbiting ""the star of Sirrah."" Alpha Andromedae Alpha Andromedae (α Andromedae, abbreviated Alpha And or α And), also named Alpheratz, is located 97 light-years from the Sun and is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. Located immediately northeast of the constellation of Pegasus, it is the upper left star of the Great Square of Pegasus. Although"
"a complete revolution in approximately 14 hours, close to its breakup velocity. Alpha Coronae Australis Alpha Coronae Australis (α Coronae Australis, abbreviated Alf CrA, α CrA), also named Meridiana, is the brightest star in the constellation of Corona Australis and is located about 125 light-years from Earth. ""α Coronae Australis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Coronae Australis"") is the star's Bayer designation. It is the only star in the constellation with a traditional proper name, ""Alphekka Meridiana"" (Latin for 'Alphekka South'), after ""Alphecca"", the brightest star in the constellation Corona Borealis. The name ""Alphecca"" or ""Alphekka"" is Arabic, short for نير الفكّة"
"bright stars. These include Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris), the brightest star in the night sky, as well as three other stars above magnitude 2.0. Furthermore, two other stars are thought to have previously outshone all others in the night sky—Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris) shone at -3.99 around 4.7 million years ago, and Mirzam (Beta Canis Majoris) peaked at −3.65 around 4.42 million years ago. Another, NR Canis Majoris, will be brightest at magnitude −0.88 in about 2.87 million years' time. The German cartographer Johann Bayer used the Greek letters Alpha through Omicron to label the most prominent stars in the"
"Containing 537 Named Stars"", ""Al Kalbain"" were the title for five stars : φ as ""Alkalbain I"", χ as ""Alkalbain II"", κ as ""Alkalbain III"", κ as ""Alkalbain IV"" and this star (υ) as ""Alkalbain V"". Upsilon Tauri Upsilon Tauri (υ Tauri) is a solitary, white-hued star in the zodiac constellation of Taurus, and is a member of the Hyades star cluster. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.28. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 21.21 mas as seen from Earth, it is located around 154 light years from the Sun."
"so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names. The catalogue of star names lists ""Capella"" as applying to the star α Aurigae Aa. Capella was the brightest star in the night sky from 210,000 years ago to 160,000 years ago, at about −1.8 in apparent magnitude. At −1.1, Aldebaran was brightest before this period; it and Capella were situated rather close to each other in the sky and approximated boreal pole stars at the time. Capella is thought to be mentioned in an Akkadian inscription dating to the 20th century BC. Its symbolism as a goat dates back to"
"have a less extensive list of references, see Stars and planetary systems in fiction. Aldebaran in fiction The planetary systems of stars other than the Sun and the Solar System are a staple element in much science fiction. Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) is a type K5 giant star in the constellation Taurus that is frequently featured in works of science fiction. There have been claims by astronomers using radial velocity measurements that Aldebaran hosts a planetary system with at least one substellar companion, but none of these has been confirmed as of 2013. Aldebaran is a popular subject for ancient myths"
"there are 71 stars brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5. Just shading Alpha Arae, Beta Arae is the brightest star in the constellation. It is an orange-hued star of spectral type K3Ib-IIa that has been classified as a supergiant or bright giant, that is around 650 light-years from Earth. It is around 8.21 times as massive and 5,636 times as luminous as the Sun. At apparent magnitude 2.85, this difference in brightness between the two is undetectable by the unaided eye. Close to Beta Arae is Gamma Arae, a blue-hued supergiant of spectral type B1Ib. Of apparent magnitude"