Britannia Object Catalogues: The Twenty Brightest Stars

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The Twenty Brightest Stars

SPECTRA OF
COMPONENTS
VISUAL MAGNITUDES
OF COMPONENTS
ABSOLUTE VISUAL
MAGNITUDES OF
COMPONENTS

STAR RIGHT
ASCEN-
SION
(1950) DECLI-
NATION
(1950) DISTANCE*
(pc) PROPER
MOTION A B C A B C A B C

h m ° ’ ”

Sirius 6 42.9 -16 39 2.7 1.33 A1V wd -1.46 +8.7 +1.4 +11.6

Canopus 6 22.8 -52 40 30 0.02 F01b-II -0.72 -3.1

α Centauri 14 36.2 -60 38 1.3 3.68 G2V K0V -0.01 +1.3 +4.4 +5.7

Arcturus 14 13.4 +19 27 11 2.28 K2IIIp -0.06 -0.3

Vega 18 35.2 +38 44 8.0 0.34 A0V +0.04 +0.5

Capella 5 13.0 +45 57 14 0.44 GIII M1V M5V +0.05 +10.2 +13.7 -0.7 +9.5 +13

Rigel 5 12.1 -8 15 250 0.00 B8 Ia B9 +0.14 +6.6 -6.8 -0.4

Procyon 7 36.7 +5 21 3.5 1.25 F5IV-V wd +0.37 +10.7 +2.6 +13.0

Betelgeuse 5 52.5 +7 24 150 0.03 M2Iab +0.41v -5.5

Achernar 1 35.9 -57 29 20 0.10 B5V +0.51 -1.0

β Centauri 14 00.3 -60 08 90 0.04 B1III ? +0.63 +4 -4.1 -0.8

Altair 19 48.3 +8 44 5.1 0.66 A7IV-V +0.77 +2.2

α Crucis 12 23.8 -62 49 120 0.04 BIIV B3 +1.39 +1.9 -4.0 -3.5

Aldebaran 4 33.0 +16 25 16 0.20 K5III M2V +0.86 +13 -0.2 +12

Spica 13 22.6 -10 54 80 0.05 B1V +0.91v -3.6

Antares 16 26.3 -26 19 120 0.03 MIIb B4eV +0.92v +5.1 -4.5 -0.3

Pollux 7 42.3 +28 09 12 0.62 K0III +1.16 +0.8

Fomalhaut 22 54.9 -29 53 7.0 0.37 A3V K4V +1.19 +6.5 +2.0 +7.3

Deneb 20 39.7 +45 06 430 0.00 A2Ia +1.26 -6.9

β Crucis 12 44.8 -59 24 150 0.05 B0.5IV +1.28v -4.6

*Distances of the more remote stars have been estimated from their spectral types and apparent magnitudes, and are only approximate.
Note: Several of the components listed are themselves spectroscopic binaries.
A "v" after a magnitude denotes that the star is variable, in which case the magnitude at median light is given.
A "p" after a spectral type indicates that the spectrum is peculiar.
An "e" after a spectral type indicates that emission lines are present.
When the luminosity classification is uncertain, a range is given.

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Database Last Updated: September 02 2017 21:54:10.
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							SPECTRA OF COMPONENTS			VISUAL MAGNITUDES OF COMPONENTS			ABSOLUTE VISUAL MAGNITUDES OF COMPONENTS
STAR	RIGHT ASCEN- SION (1950)		DECLI- NATION (1950)		DISTANCE* (pc)	PROPER MOTION	A	B	C	A	B	C	A	B	C

	h	m	°	’		”

Sirius	6	42.9	-16	39	2.7	1.33	A1V	wd		-1.46	+8.7		+1.4	+11.6
Canopus	6	22.8	-52	40	30	0.02	F01b-II			-0.72			-3.1
α Centauri	14	36.2	-60	38	1.3	3.68	G2V	K0V		-0.01	+1.3		+4.4	+5.7
Arcturus	14	13.4	+19	27	11	2.28	K2IIIp			-0.06			-0.3
Vega	18	35.2	+38	44	8.0	0.34	A0V			+0.04			+0.5
Capella	5	13.0	+45	57	14	0.44	GIII	M1V	M5V	+0.05	+10.2	+13.7	-0.7	+9.5	+13
Rigel	5	12.1	-8	15	250	0.00	B8 Ia	B9		+0.14	+6.6		-6.8	-0.4
Procyon	7	36.7	+5	21	3.5	1.25	F5IV-V	wd		+0.37	+10.7		+2.6	+13.0
Betelgeuse	5	52.5	+7	24	150	0.03	M2Iab			+0.41v			-5.5
Achernar	1	35.9	-57	29	20	0.10	B5V			+0.51			-1.0
β Centauri	14	00.3	-60	08	90	0.04	B1III	?		+0.63	+4		-4.1	-0.8
Altair	19	48.3	+8	44	5.1	0.66	A7IV-V			+0.77			+2.2
α Crucis	12	23.8	-62	49	120	0.04	BIIV	B3		+1.39	+1.9		-4.0	-3.5
Aldebaran	4	33.0	+16	25	16	0.20	K5III	M2V		+0.86	+13		-0.2	+12
Spica	13	22.6	-10	54	80	0.05	B1V			+0.91v			-3.6
Antares	16	26.3	-26	19	120	0.03	MIIb	B4eV		+0.92v	+5.1		-4.5	-0.3
Pollux	7	42.3	+28	09	12	0.62	K0III			+1.16			+0.8
Fomalhaut	22	54.9	-29	53	7.0	0.37	A3V	K4V		+1.19	+6.5		+2.0	+7.3
Deneb	20	39.7	+45	06	430	0.00	A2Ia			+1.26			-6.9
β Crucis	12	44.8	-59	24	150	0.05	B0.5IV			+1.28v			-4.6

*Distances of the more remote stars have been estimated from their spectral types and apparent magnitudes, and are only approximate. Note: Several of the components listed are themselves spectroscopic binaries. A "v" after a magnitude denotes that the star is variable, in which case the magnitude at median light is given. A "p" after a spectral type indicates that the spectrum is peculiar. An "e" after a spectral type indicates that emission lines are present. When the luminosity classification is uncertain, a range is given.