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: Moon −12.7 mag Venus −4.92 mag Jupiter −2.94 mag Mars −2.94 mag Mercury −2.48 mag Saturn −0.55 mag
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. 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. For example, Betelgeuse has the K-band (infrared) apparent magnitude of −4.05. 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 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.
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 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 +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
Blue rows indicate the brightest in their constellation
Rank Visual magnitude (mV) Proper name BayerdesignationDistance (ly) Spectral type Celestial Hemisphere0 0.000−26.74 Sun (Sol) 0.0000158 G2V 1 0.001−1.46 Siriusα Canis Majoris 0008.6 A0mA1 Va Southern2 0.003−0.74 Canopusα Carinae 0310 A9II Southern3 0.004−0.27 (0.01 + 1.33) Alpha Centauriα Centauri 0004.34 G2V Southern K1V4 0.005−0.05 Arcturusα Boötis 0037 K1.5 III Fe−0.5 Northern5 0.03 (−0.02–0.07var) Vegaα Lyrae 0025 A0Va Northern6 0.08 (0.03–0.16var) Capellaα Aurigae 0043 K0 III, G1 III Northern7 0.13 (0.05–0.18var) Rigelβ Orionis 0860 B8 Ia Southern8 0.34 Procyonα Canis Minoris 0011 F5 IV-V Northern9 0.46 (0.40–0.46var) Achernarα Eridani 0140 B3 Vpe Southern10 0.50 (0.0–1.6var) Betelgeuseα Orionis 640 M1-M2 Ia-ab Northern11 0.61 Hadarβ Centauri 0390 B1 III Southern12 0.76 Altairα Aquilae 0017 A7 V Northern13 0.76 (1.33 + 1.73) Acruxα Crucis 0320 B0.5 IV, B1 V Southern14 0.86 (0.75–0.95var) Aldebaranα Tauri 0065 K5 III Northern15 0.96 (0.6–1.6var) Antaresα Scorpii 0550 M1.5 Iab-Ib, B2.5 V Southern16 0.97 (0.97–1.04var) Spicaα Virginis 0250 B1 III-IV, B2 V Southern17 1.14 Polluxβ Geminorum 0034 K0 III Northern18 1.16 Fomalhautα Piscis Austrini 0025 A3 V Southern19 1.25 (1.21–1.29var) Denebα Cygni 2,600 A2 Ia Northern20 1.25 (1.23–1.31var) Mimosaβ Crucis 0280 B0.5 III, B2 V Southern21 1.39 Regulusα Leonis 0079 B8 IVn Northern22 1.50 Adharaε Canis Majoris 0430 B2 II Southern23 1.58 (1.93 + 2.97) Castorα Geminorum 0051 A1 V, Am Northern24 1.63 Shaulaλ Scorpii 0570 B2 IV Southern25 1.64 Gacruxγ Crucis 0089 M3.5 III Southern26 1.64 Bellatrixγ Orionis 0250 B2 III Northern27 1.65 Elnathβ Tauri/γ Aurigae 0130 B7 III Northern28 1.69 Miaplacidusβ Carinae 0110 A1 III Southern29 1.69 (1.64–1.74var) Alnilamε Orionis 1,180 B0 Ia Southern30 1.74 Alnairα Gruis 0100 B6 V Southern31 1.77 Alnitakζ Orionis 01,300 O9.5 Iab, B1 IV, B0 III Southern32 1.77 Aliothε Ursae Majoris 0083 A1 III-IVp kB9 Northern33 1.79 Dubheα Ursae Majoris 0120 K0 III, F0 V Northern34 1.82 Mirfakα Persei 0510 F5 Ib Northern35 1.82 Wezenδ Canis Majoris 1,800 F8 Ia Southern36 1.83 (1.81–1.87var + 4.27) –γ Velorum 0840 WC8, O7.5III Southern37 1.84 Sargasθ Scorpii 0330 F0 II Southern38 1.85 Kaus Australisε Sagittarii 0140 B9.5 III Southern39 1.86 Aviorε Carinae 0600 K3 III, B2 Vp Southern40 1.86 Alkaidη Ursae Majoris 0100 B3 V Northern41 1.90 (1.89–1.94var) Menkalinanβ Aurigae 080 A1mIV+A1mIV Northern42 1.91 Atriaα Trianguli Australis 0390 K2 IIb-IIIa Southern43 1.92 Alhenaγ Geminorum 0100 A1.5 IV+ Northern44 1.94 Peacockα Pavonis 0180 B3 V Southern45 1.96 (1.99–2.39var + 5.57) Alsephinaδ Velorum 0080 A1 Va(n), F7.5 V Southern46 1.98 Mirzamβ Canis Majoris 0500 B1 II-III Southern47 1.98 (1.86–2.13var) Polarisα Ursae Minoris 0430 F7 Ib Northern48 2.00 Alphardα Hydrae 0180 K3 II-III Southern49 2.00 Hamalα Arietis 0066 K1 IIIb Northern50 2.02 Diphdaβ Ceti 0096 K0 III Southern51 2.04 Mizarζ Ursae Majoris 0083 A2 Vp, A2 Vp, Am Northern52 2.05 Nunkiσ Sagittarii 0230 B2.5 V Southern53 2.06 Menkentθ Centauri 0059 K0 III Southern54 2.06 Alpheratzα Andromedae 0097 B8 IVpMnHg, A3 V Northern55 2.07 (2.01–2.10var) Mirachβ Andromedae 0200 M0 III Northern56 2.07 Rasalhagueα Ophiuchi 0047 A5IVnn Northern57 2.08 (2.37 + 3.64) Algiebaγ Leonis 0130 K0 III, G7 IIIb Northern58 2.08 Kochabβ Ursae Minoris 0130 K4 III Northern59 2.09 Saiphκ Orionis 0650 B0.5 Ia Southern60 2.11 Denebolaβ Leonis 0036 A3 Va Northern61 2.12 (2.1–3.39var) Algolβ Persei 0093 B8 V, K0 IV, A7m Northern62 2.15 (2.0–2.3var) Tiakiβ Gruis 0170 M5 III Southern63 2.17 Muhlifainγ Centauri 0130 A0 III, A0 III Southern64 2.21 Aspidiskeι Carinae 0690 A9 Ib Southern65 2.21 (2.14–2.30var) Suhailλ Velorum 0570 K4 Ib Southern66 2.23 (2.21–2.32var) Alpheccaα Coronae Borealis 0075 A0 V, G5 V Northern67 2.23 (2.23–2.35var) Mintakaδ Orionis 0900 O9.5 II, B1 V, B0 IV Southern68 2.23 Sadrγ Cygni 1,500 F8 Iab Northern69 2.23 Eltaninγ Draconis 0150 K5 III Northern70 2.24 Schedarα Cassiopeiae 0230 K0 IIIa Northern71 2.25 Naosζ Puppis 1,080 O4 If(n)p Southern72 2.26 Almachγ Andromedae 0350 K3 IIb, B9.5 V, B9.5 V, A0 V Northern73 2.28 (2.25–2.31var) Caphβ Cassiopeiae 0054 F2 III Northern74 2.29 Izarε Boötis 0202 K0 II-III, A2 V Northern75 2.30 (2.29–2.34var) Uridimα Lupi 0550 B1.5 III Southern76 2.30 (2.29–2.31var) —ε Centauri 0380 B1III Southern77 2.31 (1.6–2.32var) Dschubbaδ Scorpii 0400 B0.3 IV, B1-3 V Southern78 2.31 Larawagε Scorpii 0065 K1 III Southern79 2.35 (2.30–2.41var) —η Centauri 0310 B1.5 Vne Southern80 2.37 Merakβ Ursae Majoris 0079 A1 IVps Northern81 2.38 Ankaaα Phoenicis 0077 K0.5 IIIb Southern82 2.39 Girtabκ Scorpii 0460 B1.5 III Southern83 2.40 (0.7–3.0var) Enifε Pegasi 0670 K2 Ib Northern84 2.42 (2.31–2.74var) Scheatβ Pegasi 0200 M2.5 II-IIIe Northern85 2.43 Sabikη Ophiuchi 0088 A1 IV, A1 IV Southern86 2.44 Phecdaγ Ursae Majoris 0083 A0 Ve Northern87 2.45 Aludraη Canis Majoris 2,000 B5 Ia Southern882.46Alderaminα Cephei49 A8Vn Northern89 2.46 Markebκ Velorum 0540 B2 IV Southern90 2.47 (1.6–3.0var) Tiansiγ Cassiopeiae 0610 B0.5 IVe Northern91 2.48 Markabα Pegasi 0140 A0 IV Northern92 2.48 Aljanahε Cygni 0072 K0 III-IV Northern93 2.50 Acrabβ Scorpii 0404 B0.5 IV-V, B1.5 V, B2 V Southern
Brightest star by galaxy
+GalaxyStarDistance (ly)Spectral typeApparent MagnitudeAbsolute MagnitudeNotesMilky WaySun0G2V–26.74 4.83Sirius8.6A0mA1 Va −1.46 +1.43Large Magellanic CloudHD 33579163,000A3Ia+8.99 – 9.22 (variable) −9.57The Luminous Blue Variables S Doradus and R71 are brighter during their outbursts.Small Magellanic CloudSK 69200,000B8Ia10.47Andromeda Galaxy[DMM2009] J004406.32+4201312,500,000F2Ia15.6Triangulum GalaxyB3243,200,000A8–F0Ia14.859 –10.2A yellow hypergiant.
See also
References
External links The Magnitude system About stellar magnitudes The clickable brightest stars