Red supergiant · Orion

Betelgeuse

Also known as: α Orionis (α Ori), HIP 27989

mag 0.5500 light-years

About

Betelgeuse (α Orionis) is a red supergiant of magnitude 0.5 in Orion, about 500 light-years away.

Betelgeuse is in the constellation Orion.
Best evenings: around early February it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 73° S.
Star patterns: Winter Triangle, Winter Hexagon.
Winter Hexagon: The red supergiant inside the hexagon; its brightness slowly varies.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesA first-magnitude star, obvious even from a city. Its orange-red tint is plain to see.
Binoculars (10×50)Dazzling, with its colour stronger than to the eye.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Betelgeuse
Designation	α Orionis (α Ori)
Hipparcos number	HIP 27989
Type	Red supergiant
Spectral type	M2Ib
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.50
Magnitude	0.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	500 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1530.
Proper motion	0.029″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Orion
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 55m 10.3s
Declination (J2000)	+07° 24′ 26″