Rank
Name
Constellation
Hemisphere
1.
Sirius
Canis Major
N & S
2.
Canopus
Carina
S
3.
Alpha Centauri
Centauri
S
4.
Arcturus
Boôtes
N & S
5.
Vega
Lyra
N & S
6.
Capella
Auriga
N & S
7.
Rigel
Orion
N & S
8.
Procyon
Canis Minor
N & S
9.
Achernar
Eridanus
S
10.
Hadar
Centauri
S
11.
Betelgeuse
Orion
N & S
12.
Altair
Aquila
N & S
13.
Aldebaran
Taurus
N & S
14.
Acrux
Crux
S
15.
Antares
Scorpius
N & S
16.
Spica
Virgo
N & S
17.
Pollux
Gemini
N & S
18.
Fomalhaut
Pisces Austrinis
N & S
19.
Deneb
Cygnus
N & S
20.
Beta Crucis
Crux
S
21.
Regulus
Leo
N & S
22.
Adhara
Canis Major
N & S
23.
Castor
Gemini
N & S
24.
Shaula
Scorpius
S
25.
Bellatrix
Orion
N & S
12
Take your time as you cruise the cosmos. Pick out a few of the brightest stars and study
the stars near them. Use the constellations to guide you to the dimmer stars that can
easily escape the casual observer.
For easier star-watching, you will need to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
Astronomers call this becoming darkness adapted. You will see best after about 20
minutes in the dark. Care should be taken not to look directly at the bright projection
lamp inside your planetarium, so you don’t ruin your night vision.
Here are the 25 brightest stars, after the sun, each listed by its common name,
constellation in which it can be found, and hemisphere from which it is visible: