Betelgeuse
Also known as α Ori · HR 2061
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion, about 500 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Red supergiant star (spectral type M1-M2Ia-Iab) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 55m 10s, +7° 24′ |
| Distance | 500 light-years (its light set off about 500 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 0.42 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 1,804 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Betelgeuse is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 77° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 47°. To see it you need the naked eye, even from a town.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Orion
- Barnard's Loop
- De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
- Flame Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- M78 (NGC 2068)
- Monkey Head Nebula
- Orion Nebula (M42)
- TXS 0506+056
Everything in Orion · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits