Antares

Antares (α Scorpii) is a red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpius. With an apparent magnitude of 0.96 it is the 15th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 550 light-years from Earth.

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

ConstellationScorpius
Designationα Scorpii (Alpha Scorpii), HR 6134
Apparent magnitude0.96 (15th brightest)
Spectral typeM1.5Iab-Ib+B4Ve
Colorred (B−V 1.83)
Distanceabout 550 light-years
Right ascension16 h 29.4 min
Declination−26.43°
Best monthJuly (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 Antares

Antares is in Scorpius. From 40° N it is highest in the south in July evenings, about 24° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 81° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Dschubba (8° away), Larawag (9° away) and Sabik (14° away).

Scorpius constellation →

Other named stars in Scorpius

ShaulaSargasLarawagDschubbaAcrabLesathPaikauhaleFangAlniyatXamidimuraFuyuePipirimaIklilJabbah

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