If you are looking for a way to enter the world of astronomy, starting by knowing the brightest stars in the celestial vault is perhaps the best way to make your way in understanding the celestial bodies. We know that the starry mantle can be imposing, but with the right guide you can become an expert on the subject.
Apparent magnitude of a star
At night the celestial vault is flooded with a sublime starry mantle that throughout history has taught us more about the cosmos and the objects that inhabit it. Astronomical science has helped us on the path to understanding the bright points that we admire in the sky and the first thing we must understand to delve into the observation of stars is that each of them shines with a certain magnitude.
In astronomy there are two types of magnitudes that tell us how luminous a star is. The first is the absolute magnitude that depends intrinsically on the size of the star and therefore, it is the real magnitude of the gas giants. However, a star with an exorbitant absolute magnitude may not be visible from Earth due to the distance at which it is placed from us and this is where the second measurement comes in.
The apparent magnitude is the luminosity with which we can see a star from our perspective inside the planet. Thus, there may be a small star very close to us that will have a very large apparent magnitude. The latter is what is taken into account for astronomical observations and with which we will list the 10 most luminous stars in the sky.
Note: Apparent magnitude is measured on a scale of numbers that ranges from negative to positive, with the smallest being the brightest. That is to say, if it is found with negative apparent magnitudes, it means that the star is brighter than those with positive numbers.
brightest stars in the sky
Sirius or Sirius is the alpha star of the constellation of the Big Dog (Canis Maior), it is the brightest in the entire sky only behind the Sun. The apparent magnitude of Sirius is -1.46, so it surpasses all the other stars of the list.
It is the second brightest in the sky with a magnitude of -0.72 and is located in the constellation of Carina. It is located 310 light years from us and is eight times larger than our Sun.
Arcturus (Alpha Bootis)
Its name comes from Latin and means “guardian of the bear”, which is very appropriate since the star that lives in the constellation of Bootis, which is relatively close to the constellation, is the Big Dipper. It has an apparent magnitude of -0.04.
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri has a special place in astronomy and although it is not the brightest star in the vault, it is the closest to the Solar System with only 4.36 light years away from us. It is placed as the fourth most luminous star in the sky with an apparent magnitude of +0.01, it lives in the heart of the Centaur constellation.
Vega (Alpha Lyrae)
Vega was the polar star around the year 12,000 BC and will be again in 13,720 AD. It has been studied with great impetus thanks to the fact that it was the first star to have a photograph and a spectral record. It lives in the constellation Lyra and has an apparent magnitude of +0.03.
Rigel (Beta Orionis)
It is the second largest star in , although by distance it appears brighter than Betelgeuse, which is the largest in the Hunter. It has an apparent magnitude of +0.18 and is easily recognizable, you just have to locate Orion’s belt and near it you can see both Rigel and Betelgeuse.
Procion (Alpha Canis Minoris)
It lives in the constellation Canis Minor and is the largest of the small group of stars. It can be located thanks to Sirio, since the dogs are next to each other. Procion has an apparent magnitude of +0.50.
Achernar (Alpha Eridani)
Achernar is visible only from the southern hemisphere and never in the north at latitudes above 32° 45′ N. Its home is the constellation Eridanus and has an apparent magnitude of +0.45.
Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis)
It is a reddish star, perhaps one of the most beautiful on the list that is characterized by being the largest in the constellation of Orion. It accompanies Rigel in the image of the Hunter with an apparent magnitude of +0.42.
Hadar (Beta Centauri)
It is the second largest star in the Centauri constellation, making it a companion to the famous Alpha Centauri. It can be seen much better from more southern latitudes and has an apparent magnitude of +0.60.