Brightest stars and star names

Stars with an official name from the International Astronomical Union, sorted by brightness. Each has a finder chart.

1. Sirius−1.46 · Canis Major

2. Canopus−0.72 · Carina

3. Rigil Kentaurus−0.27 · Centaurus

4. Arcturus−0.04 · Boötes

5. Vega0.03 · Lyra

6. Capella0.08 · Auriga

7. Rigel0.12 · Orion

8. Procyon0.38 · Canis Minor

9. Achernar0.46 · Eridanus

10. Betelgeuse0.5 · Orion

All named stars by brightness

Click a column heading to sort.

#	Star	Constellation	Magnitude	Distance	Color
1	Sirius	Canis Major	−1.46	9 ly	white
2	Canopus	Carina	−0.72	310 ly	yellow-white
3	Rigil Kentaurus	Centaurus	−0.27	4 ly	yellow
4	Arcturus	Boötes	−0.04	37 ly	orange
5	Vega	Lyra	0.03	25 ly	white
6	Capella	Auriga	0.08	42 ly	yellow
7	Rigel	Orion	0.12	860 ly	blue-white
8	Procyon	Canis Minor	0.38	11 ly	yellow-white
9	Achernar	Eridanus	0.46	144 ly	blue-white
10	Betelgeuse	Orion	0.5	548 ly	red
11	Hadar	Centaurus	0.61	390 ly	blue-white
12	Acrux	Crux	0.76	320 ly	blue-white
13	Altair	Aquila	0.77	17 ly	white
14	Aldebaran	Taurus	0.85	67 ly	orange
15	Antares	Scorpius	0.96	550 ly	red
16	Spica	Virgo	0.98	303 ly	blue-white
17	Pollux	Gemini	1.14	34 ly	orange
18	Fomalhaut	Piscis Austrinus	1.16	25 ly	white
19	Mimosa	Crux	1.25	277 ly	blue-white
20	Deneb	Cygnus	1.25	1,640 ly	white
21	Toliman	Centaurus	1.33	4 ly	orange
22	Regulus	Leo	1.35	77 ly	blue-white
23	Adhara	Canis Major	1.5	430 ly	blue-white
24	Gacrux	Crux	1.63	88 ly	red
25	Shaula	Scorpius	1.63	—	blue-white
26	Bellatrix	Orion	1.64	395 ly	blue-white
27	Elnath	Taurus	1.65	134 ly	blue-white
28	Miaplacidus	Carina	1.68	113 ly	white
29	Alnilam	Orion	1.7	1,194 ly	blue-white
30	Alnair	Grus	1.74	101 ly	blue-white
31	Alioth	Ursa Major	1.77	79 ly	white
32	Mirfak	Perseus	1.79	590 ly	yellow-white
33	Dubhe	Ursa Major	1.79	123 ly	orange
34	Wezen	Canis Major	1.84	—	yellow-white
35	Kaus Australis	Sagittarius	1.85	—	blue-white
36	Avior	Carina	1.86	—	orange
37	Alkaid	Ursa Major	1.86	100 ly	blue-white
38	Sargas	Scorpius	1.87	270 ly	yellow-white
39	Menkalinan	Auriga	1.9	—	white
40	Atria	Triangulum Australe	1.92	—	orange
41	Alhena	Gemini	1.93	109 ly	white
42	Peacock	Pavo	1.94	183 ly	blue-white
43	Alsephina	Vela	1.96	—	white
44	Mirzam	Canis Major	1.98	492 ly	blue-white
45	Alphard	Hydra	1.98	—	orange
46	Castor	Gemini	1.98	51 ly	white
47	Hamal	Aries	2.0	66 ly	orange
48	Nunki	Sagittarius	2.02	228 ly	blue-white
49	Polaris	Ursa Minor	2.02	432 ly	yellow-white
50	Diphda	Cetus	2.04	—	yellow
51	Alnitak	Orion	2.05	969 ly	blue
52	Menkent	Centaurus	2.06	59 ly	orange
53	Saiph	Orion	2.06	799 ly	blue-white
54	Alpheratz	Andromeda	2.06	97 ly	blue-white
55	Mirach	Andromeda	2.06	199 ly	red
56	Rasalhague	Ophiuchus	2.08	—	white
57	Kochab	Ursa Minor	2.08	131 ly	orange
58	Tiaki	Grus	2.1	—	red
59	Algol	Perseus	2.12	93 ly	blue-white
60	Denebola	Leo	2.14	36 ly	white
61	Sadr	Cygnus	2.2	1,826 ly	yellow-white
62	Suhail	Vela	2.21	—	orange
63	Mintaka	Orion	2.23	—	blue
64	Alphecca	Corona Borealis	2.23	75 ly	white
65	Eltanin	Draco	2.23	—	orange
66	Schedar	Cassiopeia	2.23	231 ly	orange
67	Aspidiske	Carina	2.25	—	white
68	Naos	Puppis	2.25	—	blue
69	Almach	Andromeda	2.26	350 ly	orange
70	Mizar	Ursa Major	2.27	83 ly	white
71	Caph	Cassiopeia	2.27	54 ly	yellow-white
72	Larawag	Scorpius	2.29	80 ly	orange
73	Dschubba	Scorpius	2.32	731 ly	blue-white
74	Merak	Ursa Major	2.37	97 ly	white
75	Ankaa	Phoenix	2.39	82 ly	orange
76	Enif	Pegasus	2.39	670 ly	orange
77	Scheat	Pegasus	2.42	199 ly	red
78	Sabik	Ophiuchus	2.43	—	white
79	Phecda	Ursa Major	2.44	111 ly	white
80	Alderamin	Cepheus	2.44	49 ly	white
81	Aludra	Canis Major	2.45	—	blue-white
82	Aljanah	Cygnus	2.46	76 ly	orange
83	Markab	Pegasus	2.49	140 ly	blue-white
84	Markeb	Vela	2.5	571 ly	blue-white
85	Menkar	Cetus	2.53	249 ly	red
86	Zosma	Leo	2.56	58 ly	white
87	Arneb	Lepus	2.58	—	yellow-white
88	Gienah	Corvus	2.59	154 ly	blue-white
89	Ascella	Sagittarius	2.6	—	white
90	Zubeneschamali	Libra	2.61	185 ly	blue-white
91	Algieba	Leo	2.61	126 ly	orange
92	Acrab	Scorpius	2.62	—	blue-white
93	Mahasim	Auriga	2.62	—	white
94	Phact	Columba	2.64	286 ly	blue-white
95	Sheratan	Aries	2.64	59 ly	white
96	Kraz	Corvus	2.65	163 ly	yellow
97	Unukalhai	Serpens	2.65	83 ly	orange
98	Muphrid	Boötes	2.68	—	yellow
99	Ruchbah	Cassiopeia	2.68	102 ly	white
100	Lesath	Scorpius	2.69	—	blue-white
101	Hassaleh	Auriga	2.69	450 ly	orange
102	Kaus Media	Sagittarius	2.7	416 ly	orange
103	Izar	Boötes	2.7	203 ly	orange
104	Tarazed	Aquila	2.72	583 ly	orange
105	Yed Prior	Ophiuchus	2.74	160 ly	red
106	Athebyne	Draco	2.74	89 ly	yellow
107	Zubenelgenubi	Libra	2.75	—	white
108	Hatysa	Orion	2.77	—	blue
109	Cebalrai	Ophiuchus	2.77	83 ly	orange
110	Kornephoros	Hercules	2.77	230 ly	yellow
111	Cursa	Eridanus	2.79	90 ly	white
112	Rastaban	Draco	2.79	398 ly	yellow
113	Imai	Crux	2.8	455 ly	blue-white
114	Kaus Borealis	Sagittarius	2.81	84 ly	orange
115	Tureis	Puppis	2.81	66 ly	yellow-white
116	Paikauhale	Scorpius	2.82	—	blue-white
117	Vindemiatrix	Virgo	2.83	108 ly	yellow
118	Algenib	Pegasus	2.83	469 ly	blue-white
119	Nihal	Lepus	2.84	156 ly	yellow
120	Deneb Algedi	Capricornus	2.87	44 ly	white
121	Alcyone	Taurus	2.87	370 ly	blue-white
122	Fawaris	Cygnus	2.87	167 ly	blue-white
123	Tejat	Gemini	2.88	—	red
124	Fang	Scorpius	2.89	—	blue-white
125	Alniyat	Scorpius	2.89	691 ly	blue-white
126	Albaldah	Sagittarius	2.89	353 ly	yellow-white
127	Gomeisa	Canis Minor	2.9	160 ly	blue-white
128	Cor Caroli	Canes Venatici	2.9	123 ly	white
129	Sadalsuud	Aquarius	2.91	462 ly	yellow
130	Matar	Pegasus	2.94	238 ly	yellow
131	Algorab	Corvus	2.95	86 ly	blue-white
132	Zaurak	Eridanus	2.95	192 ly	red
133	Sadalmelik	Aquarius	2.96	253 ly	yellow
134	Mebsuta	Gemini	2.98	—	yellow
135	Alnasl	Sagittarius	2.99	106 ly	orange
136	Okab	Aquila	2.99	85 ly	white
137	Almaaz	Auriga	2.99	2,000 ly	yellow-white
138	Tianguan	Taurus	3.0	457 ly	blue-white
139	Aldhanab	Grus	3.01	183 ly	blue-white
140	Furud	Canis Major	3.02	344 ly	blue-white
141	Seginus	Boötes	3.03	87 ly	white
142	Mira	Cetus	3.04	300 ly	red
143	Tania Australis	Ursa Major	3.05	183 ly	red
144	Pherkad	Ursa Minor	3.05	766 ly	white
145	Altais	Draco	3.07	103 ly	yellow
146	Xamidimura	Scorpius	3.08	—	blue-white
147	Dabih	Capricornus	3.08	555 ly	yellow-white
148	Albireo	Cygnus	3.08	328 ly	orange
149	Wazn	Columba	3.12	90 ly	orange
150	Sarin	Hercules	3.14	77 ly	white
151	Talitha	Ursa Major	3.14	—	white
152	Haedus	Auriga	3.17	233 ly	blue-white
153	Aldhibah	Draco	3.17	417 ly	blue-white
154	Tabit	Orion	3.19	26 ly	yellow-white
155	Fuyue	Scorpius	3.21	149 ly	orange
156	Errai	Cepheus	3.21	45 ly	orange
157	Alfirk	Cepheus	3.23	—	blue-white
158	Acamar	Eridanus	3.24	—	white
159	Yed Posterior	Ophiuchus	3.24	108 ly	yellow
160	Sulafat	Lyra	3.24	657 ly	blue-white
161	Skat	Aquarius	3.27	160 ly	white
162	Propus	Gemini	3.28	384 ly	red
163	Brachium	Libra	3.29	260 ly	red
164	Edasich	Draco	3.29	103 ly	orange
165	Megrez	Ursa Major	3.31	81 ly	white
166	Azmidi	Puppis	3.34	1,020 ly	yellow
167	Chertan	Leo	3.34	176 ly	white
168	Alzirr	Gemini	3.36	60 ly	yellow-white
169	Muscida	Ursa Major	3.36	184 ly	yellow
170	Heze	Virgo	3.37	75 ly	white
171	Minelauva	Virgo	3.38	198 ly	red
172	Ashlesha	Hydra	3.38	—	yellow
173	Segin	Cassiopeia	3.38	466 ly	blue-white
174	Homam	Pegasus	3.4	228 ly	blue-white
175	Chamukuy	Taurus	3.4	157 ly	white
176	Mothallah	Triangulum	3.41	64 ly	yellow-white
177	Adhafera	Leo	3.44	239 ly	yellow-white
178	Achird	Cassiopeia	3.44	19 ly	yellow-white
179	Sheliak	Lyra	3.45	1,080 ly	blue-white
180	Tania Borealis	Ursa Major	3.45	226 ly	white
181	Nganurganity	Canis Major	3.47	—	orange
182	Kaffaljidhma	Cetus	3.47	—	white
183	Rasalgethi	Hercules	3.48	360 ly	red
184	Sadalbari	Pegasus	3.48	115 ly	yellow
185	Alula Borealis	Ursa Major	3.48	229 ly	orange
186	Nekkar	Boötes	3.5	235 ly	yellow
187	Tarf	Cancer	3.52	303 ly	orange
188	Subra	Leo	3.52	135 ly	yellow-white
189	Biham	Pegasus	3.53	89 ly	white
190	Ain	Taurus	3.53	155 ly	yellow
191	Wasat	Gemini	3.53	56 ly	yellow-white
192	Rana	Eridanus	3.54	30 ly	orange
193	Meissa	Orion	3.54	—	blue
194	Pipirima	Scorpius	3.57	553 ly	blue-white
195	Algedi	Capricornus	3.57	109 ly	yellow
196	Nembus	Andromeda	3.57	176 ly	orange
197	Ginan	Crux	3.59	230 ly	orange
198	Alkaphrah	Ursa Major	3.6	—	white
199	Zavijava	Virgo	3.61	36 ly	yellow-white
200	Alpherg	Pisces	3.62	271 ly	yellow
201	Rotanev	Delphinus	3.63	—	yellow-white
202	Atlas	Taurus	3.63	387 ly	blue-white
203	Bharani	Aries	3.63	154 ly	blue-white
204	Porrima	Virgo	3.65	38 ly	yellow-white
205	Prima Hyadum	Taurus	3.65	144 ly	orange
206	Thuban	Draco	3.65	268 ly	white
207	Fulu	Cassiopeia	3.66	355 ly	blue-white
208	Nashira	Capricornus	3.68	171 ly	yellow-white
209	Nusakan	Corona Borealis	3.68	117 ly	yellow-white
210	Electra	Taurus	3.7	375 ly	blue-white
211	Alshain	Aquila	3.71	44 ly	yellow
212	Taiyangshou	Ursa Major	3.71	198 ly	orange
213	Baten Kaitos	Cetus	3.73	253 ly	orange
214	Ran	Eridanus	3.73	11 ly	orange
215	Saclateni	Auriga	3.75	—	orange
216	Grumium	Draco	3.75	112 ly	orange
217	Secunda Hyadum	Taurus	3.76	171 ly	orange
218	Miram	Perseus	3.76	775 ly	orange
219	Albali	Aquarius	3.77	244 ly	white
220	Sualocin	Delphinus	3.77	238 ly	blue-white
221	Mekbuda	Gemini	3.79	1,220 ly	yellow-white
222	Misam	Perseus	3.8	114 ly	orange
223	Theemin	Eridanus	3.82	211 ly	yellow
224	Marfik	Ophiuchus	3.82	—	white
225	Atik	Perseus	3.83	1,210 ly	blue-white
226	Praecipua	Leo Minor	3.83	104 ly	orange
227	Sadachbia	Aquarius	3.84	126 ly	white
228	Giausar	Draco	3.84	387 ly	red
229	Polis	Sagittarius	3.86	—	blue-white
230	Dalim	Fornax	3.87	46 ly	yellow-white
231	Sceptrum	Eridanus	3.87	116 ly	orange
232	Maia	Taurus	3.87	344 ly	blue-white
233	Iklil	Scorpius	3.88	445 ly	blue-white
234	Rasalas	Leo	3.88	124 ly	orange
235	Azha	Eridanus	3.89	135 ly	orange
236	Zaniah	Virgo	3.89	257 ly	white
237	Zubenelhakrabi	Libra	3.91	164 ly	yellow
238	Ukdah	Hydra	3.91	253 ly	orange
239	Wurren	Phoenix	3.92	291 ly	blue-white
240	Kitalpha	Equuleus	3.92	190 ly	yellow
241	Asellus Australis	Cancer	3.94	137 ly	orange
242	Beemim	Eridanus	3.96	293 ly	orange
243	Rukbat	Sagittarius	3.97	180 ly	blue-white
244	Arkab Prior	Sagittarius	4.01	261 ly	blue-white
245	Jabbah	Scorpius	4.01	—	blue-white
246	Alcor	Ursa Major	4.01	81 ly	white
247	Alchiba	Corvus	4.02	49 ly	yellow-white
248	Aldulfin	Delphinus	4.03	366 ly	blue-white
249	Beid	Eridanus	4.04	125 ly	yellow-white
250	Menkib	Perseus	4.04	1,585 ly	blue
251	Alkes	Crater	4.08	159 ly	orange
252	Syrma	Virgo	4.08	72 ly	yellow-white
253	Gudja	Serpens	4.09	329 ly	red
254	Titawin	Andromeda	4.09	44 ly	yellow-white
255	Meridiana	Corona Australis	4.11	120 ly	white
256	Muliphein	Canis Major	4.12	313 ly	blue-white
257	Zhang	Hydra	4.12	248 ly	yellow
258	Ancha	Aquarius	4.16	191 ly	yellow
259	Merope	Taurus	4.18	344 ly	blue-white
260	Xuange	Boötes	4.18	100 ly	white
261	Kang	Virgo	4.19	281 ly	orange
262	Acubens	Cancer	4.25	178 ly	white
263	Alsciaukat	Lynx	4.25	389 ly	orange
264	Torcular	Pisces	4.26	260 ly	yellow
265	Chara	Canes Venatici	4.26	28 ly	yellow
266	Arkab Posterior	Sagittarius	4.29	140 ly	yellow-white
267	Kurhah	Cepheus	4.29	—	white
268	Taygeta	Taurus	4.3	364 ly	blue-white
269	Alterf	Leo	4.31	373 ly	orange
270	Alkalurops	Boötes	4.31	123 ly	yellow-white
271	Alrescha	Pisces	4.33	151 ly	white
272	Botein	Aries	4.35	165 ly	orange
273	Yildun	Ursa Minor	4.36	182 ly	white
274	Sham	Sagitta	4.37	427 ly	yellow
275	Aladfar	Lyra	4.39	858 ly	blue-white
276	Alkarab	Pegasus	4.4	174 ly	yellow-white
277	Maasym	Hercules	4.41	393 ly	orange
278	Alula Australis	Ursa Major	4.41	—	yellow
279	Keid	Eridanus	4.43	16 ly	orange
280	Minchir	Hydra	4.44	379 ly	orange
281	Anser	Vulpecula	4.44	326 ly	red
282	Lilii Borea	Aries	4.51	171 ly	orange
283	Khambalia	Virgo	4.52	174 ly	white
284	Fumalsamakah	Pisces	4.53	423 ly	blue-white
285	Cujam	Hercules	4.57	249 ly	blue-white
286	Dziban	Draco	4.58	70 ly	yellow-white
287	Salm	Pegasus	4.6	157 ly	white
288	Alya	Serpens	4.62	131 ly	white
289	Castula	Cassiopeia	4.63	196 ly	yellow
290	Asellus Borealis	Cancer	4.66	175 ly	white
291	Azelfafage	Cygnus	4.67	—	blue-white
292	Alsafi	Draco	4.68	19 ly	orange
293	Bunda	Aquarius	4.69	179 ly	white
294	Terebellum	Sagittarius	4.7	76 ly	yellow
295	Libertas	Aquila	4.71	186 ly	yellow
296	Angetenar	Eridanus	4.75	194 ly	orange
297	Mesarthim	Aries	4.75	—	white
298	Alshat	Capricornus	4.76	268 ly	blue-white
299	Zibal	Eridanus	4.8	119 ly	white
300	Elgafar	Virgo	4.81	121 ly	yellow
301	Fafnir	Draco	4.82	296 ly	orange
302	Ainalrami	Sagittarius	4.83	1,774 ly	orange
303	Adhil	Andromeda	4.88	220 ly	orange
304	Jishui	Gemini	4.9	169 ly	yellow-white
305	Felis	Hydra	4.94	526 ly	red
306	La Superba	Canes Venatici	4.99	1,012 ly	red
307	Marsic	Hercules	5.0	394 ly	yellow

Frequently asked questions

What is the brightest star in the night sky?

Sirius, at magnitude −1.46. Only the Moon and the planets Venus, Jupiter and sometimes Mars outshine it.

What is the closest star to Earth?

After the Sun, the closest star is Proxima Centauri, a faint red dwarf. Its companion Rigil Kentaurus, the brightest star of the Alpha Centauri system, is 4.00 light-years away and visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.

Is the North Star the brightest star?

No. Polaris, the North Star, is only the 51st-brightest star (magnitude 2.02). It is famous because it sits almost exactly above Earth's North Pole, so it stays in place while the sky turns.

How many stars have official names?

The International Astronomical Union has approved names for about 450 stars. This atlas has a finder chart for each of the 307 named stars brighter than magnitude 5.

Report a mistake on this page

Brightest stars and star names

The ten brightest stars

All named stars by brightness

Frequently asked questions

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