Betelgeuse
star · Orion · 0.5ᵐ
A red supergiant marking Orion’s shoulder — placed at the Sun’s position it would swallow Jupiter’s orbit. A variable star and a prime supernova candidate.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Betelgeuse around the year 1528.
About 166 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Betelgeuse in?
Betelgeuse lies in Orion.
Is Betelgeuse visible to the naked eye?
0.5ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Betelgeuse?
Best observed in December.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 5h 55m · +7° 24′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Orion
- How to observe
- 0.5ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- M2Ib — red star
- Absolute magnitude
- -5.5ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈13,183 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~498 light years
- Designation
- HIP 27989
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° | 37° | 75° |
| +55° | 42° | 77° |
| +45° | 52° | 79° |
| +30° | 67° | 81° |
| 0° | 83° | 83° |
| −35° | 48° | 81° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 22:10 |
| February | 20:02 |
| March | 18:17 |
| April | 16:24 |
| May | 14:29 |
| June | 12:23 |
| July | 10:19 |
| August | 08:18 |
| September | 06:25 |
| October | 04:37 |
| November | 02:36 |
| December | 00:27 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.