Alnitak

Alnitak (ζ Orionis) is a blue supergiant star in the constellation Orion. With an apparent magnitude of 2.05 it is the 53rd-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 969 light-years from Earth.

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

ConstellationOrion
Designationζ Orionis (Zeta Orionis), HR 1948
Apparent magnitude2.05 (53rd brightest)
Spectral typeO9.7Ib
Colorblue (B−V -0.21)
Distanceabout 969 light-years
Right ascension5 h 40.8 min
Declination−1.94°
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 Alnitak

Alnitak is in Orion. From 40° N it is highest in the south in January evenings, about 48° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 57° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Alnilam (1° away), Mintaka (3° away) and Saiph (8° away).

Orion constellation →

Other named stars in Orion

RigelBetelgeuseBellatrixAlnilamSaiphMintakaHatysaTabitMeissa

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