The 20 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky
Sky Map
Celestial bearing and elevation at 18:53
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.
Arcturus
Star
Arcturus, the fourth brightest star, is an orange giant in the constellation Boötes. Its distinctive hue and brightness make it easily recognizable in the night sky.
Vega
Star
Vega, the fifth brightest star, is part of the constellation Lyra. It is one of the most luminous stars visible from Earth and a prominent member of the Summer Triangle asterism.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alioth
Star
Alioth is a bright star in the constellation Ursa Major, forming part of the Big Dipper asterism. It is one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere night sky.
Mirfak
Star
Mirfak is a bright star in the constellation Perseus, known for its distinctive yellow-white color. It is one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere night sky.
Alkaid
Star
Alkaid, also known as Eta Ursae Majoris, is a star in the constellation Ursa Major. It is the end star of the Big Dipper's handle and is easily identifiable.
Menkalinan
Star
Menkalinan, also known as Beta Aurigae, is a bright star in the constellation Auriga. It is one of the brightest stars in Auriga and serves as a navigational marker for astronomers.
Alhena
Star
Polaris
Star
Polaris, also known as the North Star or Alpha Ursae Minoris, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is almost directly aligned with the Earth's rotational axis, making it a stable point in the night sky for navigation.