Rigel
Star in Orion · 862.8 light-years
🔭 Explore Rigel in the 3D map →View Rigel images →| Type | Star |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Right ascension | 5h 14m 32s |
| Declination | −8° 12′ |
| Object distance | 862.8 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 0.18 |
| Also known as | Spectral type B8Ia |
A brilliant blue supergiant at Orion’s foot, tens of thousands of times more luminous than the Sun.
Observing Rigel
Rigel lies in the constellation Orion and is best placed in the evening sky around December. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. Lying near the celestial equator, it can be seen from both hemispheres. At its brightness it can be found with the unaided eye under a dark sky and is easy in binoculars.
See Rigel in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Rigel and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position and distance from the HYG stellar database (Hipparcos · Yale Bright Star · Gliese).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- The Sun — star
- Proxima Centauri — star
- Barnard's Star — star
- TRAPPIST-1 — star
- Sirius — star