Alnilam

Alnilam (ε Orionis) is a blue-white supergiant star in the constellation Orion. With an apparent magnitude of 1.7 it is the 29th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 1,194 light-years from Earth.

Finder chart showing where Alnilam is in the constellation Orion
Alnilam (circled) in Orion, with the surrounding constellations and bright stars.
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Facts

ConstellationOrion
Designationε Orionis (Epsilon Orionis), HR 1903
Apparent magnitude1.7 (29th brightest)
Spectral typeB0Ia
Colorblue-white (B−V -0.19)
Distanceabout 1,194 light-years
Right ascension5 h 36.2 min
Declination−1.20°
Best monthJanuary (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Alnilam

Alnilam is in Orion. From 40° N it is highest in the south in January evenings, about 49° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 56° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Alnitak (1° away), Mintaka (1° away) and Bellatrix (8° away).

Orion constellation →

Other named stars in Orion

RigelBetelgeuseBellatrixAlnitakSaiphMintakaHatysaTabitMeissa

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