Blue bright giant · Orion

Mintaka

Also known as: δ Orionis (δ Ori), HIP 25930

mag 2.3690 light-years

About

Mintaka (δ Orionis) is a blue bright giant of magnitude 2.3 in Orion, about 690 light-years away.

Mintaka is in the constellation Orion.
Best evenings: around late January 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 south of 80° N.
Star patterns: Orion’s Belt and Sword.

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.

EyesEasy, even from town. It looks blue-white.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
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	Mintaka
Designation	δ Orionis (δ Ori)
Hipparcos number	HIP 25930
Type	Blue bright giant
Spectral type	O9.5II
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.17
Magnitude	2.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	690 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1330.
Proper motion	0.002″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Orion
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 32m 00.4s
Declination (J2000)	−00° 17′ 57″