Antares
star · Scorpius · 1.1ᵐ
A red supergiant whose name means “rival of Mars”, after its similar colour. Its diameter is about 700 times the Sun’s.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Antares around the year 1472.
About 95 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Antares in?
Antares lies in Scorpius.
Is Antares visible to the naked eye?
1.1ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Antares?
Best observed in May.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 16h 29m · −26° 26′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Scorpius
- How to observe
- 1.1ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- M1Ib + B2.5V — red star
- Absolute magnitude
- -5.1ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈9,290 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~554 light years
- Designation
- HIP 80763
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 4° | 153° |
| +55° | 9° | 141° |
| +45° | 19° | 129° |
| +30° | 34° | 121° |
| 0° | 64° | 116° |
| −35° | 81° | 123° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 08:44 |
| February | 06:37 |
| March | 04:51 |
| April | 02:58 |
| May | 01:04 |
| June | 22:57 |
| July | 20:54 |
| August | 18:53 |
| September | 16:59 |
| October | 15:11 |
| November | 13:10 |
| December | 11:01 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.