The 20 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky
Sky Map
The sky above you at 18:34
This interactive sky map shows the positions of the brightest celestial objects from your location. Move it horizontally to follow how their positions change through the night.
Explore the brightest stars visible from Earth and open each card for current position, magnitude and observing details.
Many of these stars are visible to the naked eye, even with moderate light pollution. Use the live sky map to find them from your location.
Many of these stars are visible to the naked eye, even with moderate light pollution. Use the live sky map to find them from your location.
Sirius
Star
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, a binary star system located in the constellation Canis Major. Its brilliant white light is easily visible from Earth.
Canopus
Star
Canopus is the second brightest star, situated in the constellation Carina. It is a massive and luminous star, prominent in the southern hemisphere night sky.
Capella
Star
Capella, the sixth brightest star, is a yellow giant located in the constellation Auriga. Its brightness and close proximity to the celestial north pole make it easily identifiable.
Rigel
Star
Rigel, the seventh brightest star, is a blue supergiant in the constellation Orion. It is one of the most massive and luminous stars visible to the naked eye.
Procyon
Star
Procyon, the eighth brightest star, is a binary system in the constellation Canis Minor. Its name means 'before the dog' as it rises just before Sirius, the 'Dog Star'.
Achernar
Star
Achernar, the ninth brightest star, is located in the constellation Eridanus. It is one of the flattest stars known and appears prominently in the southern hemisphere.
Betelgeuse
Star
Betelgeuse, the tenth brightest star, is a red supergiant in the constellation Orion. It is one of the largest known stars and exhibits noticeable variability in brightness.
Altair
Star
Altair is a bright white star located in the constellation Aquila. It is one of the closest stars visible to Earth and forms one vertex of the prominent Summer Triangle asterism.
Aldebaran
Star
Aldebaran is an orange giant star situated in the constellation Taurus. Its name means 'the follower' as it appears to follow the Pleiades star cluster across the sky.
Pollux
Star
Pollux is part of the Gemini twins, a bright yellow-orange giant star. It is one of the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, easily visible to the naked eye.
Fomalhaut
Star
Fomalhaut is a bright star situated in the constellation Piscis Austrinus. It is notable for hosting a prominent debris disk and is often referred to as the 'Lonely Star' due to its isolation.
Deneb
Star
Deneb is part of the Summer Triangle, one of the most luminous stars known. Located in the constellation Cygnus, it is a massive white supergiant and serves as a beacon in the night sky.
Regulus
Star
Regulus is a prominent star in the constellation Leo, known for its bluish-white color and brightness. It is the brightest star in Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Adhara
Star
Adhara is a bright star located in the constellation Canis Major. It is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and serves as a navigational landmark for celestial observers.
Castor
Star
Castor is part of the Gemini twins, forming a binary star system. It is one of the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini and is easily visible to the naked eye.
Bellatrix
Star
Bellatrix is a bright blue giant star located in the constellation Orion. It is one of the prominent stars forming Orion's Belt and is easily identifiable in the night sky.
Elnath
Star
Elnath is a binary star system located in the constellation Taurus. It is one of the brightest stars in Taurus and serves as one of the 'horns' of the celestial bull.
Alnilam
Star
Alnilam is part of Orion's Belt, a prominent asterism in the constellation Orion. It is a blue supergiant and one of the brightest stars in the Orion constellation.
Alnair
Star
Alnair is a bright star located in the constellation Grus. It is one of the prominent stars in the southern hemisphere night sky and serves as a navigational marker for astronomers.
Alnitak
Star
Alnitak is part of Orion's Belt, a triple star system in the constellation Orion. It is one of the most recognizable features of the Orion constellation.