Rigel
star · Orion · 0.2ᵐ
A blue-white supergiant and the brightest star in Orion, roughly 120,000 times more luminous than the Sun.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Rigel around the year 1163.
About 213 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Rigel in?
Rigel lies in Orion.
Is Rigel visible to the naked eye?
0.2ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Rigel?
Best observed in December.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 5h 15m · −8° 12′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Orion
- How to observe
- 0.2ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B8Ia — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -6.9ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈50,582 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~863 light years
- Designation
- HIP 24436
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° | 22° | 107° |
| +55° | 27° | 104° |
| +45° | 37° | 102° |
| +30° | 52° | 99° |
| 0° | 82° | 98° |
| −35° | 63° | 100° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 21:29 |
| February | 19:22 |
| March | 17:36 |
| April | 15:43 |
| May | 13:49 |
| June | 11:43 |
| July | 09:39 |
| August | 07:38 |
| September | 05:45 |
| October | 03:56 |
| November | 01:55 |
| December | 23:47 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.