Bright star · Orion
Betelgeuse
NameBetelgeuse
DesignationsAlpha Orionis · HIP 27989 · HD 39801
ConstellationOrion
Distance~550 (uncertain) ly
Magnitude+0.50
Spectral typeM1–M2Ia
Naked eye: magnitude +0.50, bright enough to see without a telescope under dark skies (limit ≈ +6).
From India (8°–34° N): rises above the horizon everywhere in the country.
Why it matters
When to look: Dec–Mar; a red supergiant that dimmed sharply in 2019–20.
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of brightest stars
- HYG Database v4.1 (D. Nash, astronexus), CC BY-SA 4.0: stars within 20 ly, derived list
- HYG Database v4.1 (Nash), CC BY-SA 4.0
- IAU, The Constellations (88 official names and abbreviations)
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