Last updated August 31, 2025

The Brightest Stars in the Sky: Top 50

Apparent and Intrinsic Luminosity: Analysis of the Most Visible Stars

The stars visible from Earth exhibit a wide range of apparent luminosity, influenced by their intrinsic magnitude and distance.

Intrinsic Magnitude

The intrinsic magnitude (or absolute magnitude) of a star is a measure of its actual luminosity, i.e., the luminosity it would have if it were located at a standard distance of 10 parsecs (≈ 32.6 light-years) from the observer. It allows direct comparison of the luminous power of different stars, regardless of their distance from Earth.

Apparent Magnitude

The apparent magnitude of a star measures its luminosity as perceived from Earth. It depends on both the star's intrinsic luminosity and its distance from the observer. The lower (or more negative) the apparent magnitude, the brighter the star appears in the sky.

The relationship between apparent magnitude \(m\), absolute magnitude \(M\), and distance \(d\) (in parsecs) is given by the formula: \(\displaystyle m - M = 5 \log_{10}(d) - 5\)

This equation allows one of the three variables to be determined if the other two are known. For example, a very luminous but very distant star can have an apparent magnitude comparable to that of a less luminous but closer star.

Apparent magnitude explains why some stars that are very bright in the night sky, such as Sirius, may appear more brilliant than intrinsically brighter but much more distant stars.

Table of the Brightest Stars

Top 50 Brightest Stars in the Sky
Rank	Common Name	Astronomical Name	Apparent Magnitude	Absolute Magnitude	Distance (light-years)	Spectral Type
1	Sirius	α CMa	-1.46	1.45	8.6	A1V
2	Canopus	α Car	-0.74	-5.53	313	F0II
3	Alpha Centauri	α Cen	-0.27	4.34	4.3	G2V
4	Arcturus	α Boo	-0.05	-0.31	37	K1.5III
5	Vega	α Lyr	0.03	0.58	25	A0V
6	Capella	α Aur	0.08	-0.48	42	G8III
7	Rigel	β Ori	0.13	-6.69	773	B8Ia
8	Procyon	α CMi	0.38	2.68	11	F5IV-V
9	Betelgeuse	α Ori	0.42	-5.14	522	M2Ia
10	Achernar	α Eri	0.46	-4.74	139	B6Vep
11	Hadar	β Cen	0.61	-0.93	390	B1III
12	Altair	α Aql	0.77	2.21	16.7	A7V
13	Spica	α Vir	0.98	-3.55	260	B1III-IV
14	Antares	α Sco	1.06	-5.28	550	M1.5Iab
15	Pollux	β Gem	1.14	1.01	34	K0III
16	Fomalhaut	α PsA	1.16	1.73	25.1	A3V
17	Deneb	α Cyg	1.25	-7.1	1,425	A2Ia
18	Mimosa	β Cru	1.25	-2.7	280	B0.5III
19	Regulus	α Leo	1.35	-0.52	79	B7V
20	Adhara	ε CMa	1.50	-3.8	430	B2II
21	Shaula	λ Sco	1.62	-2.0	570	B2IV
22	Castor	α Gem	1.58	0.1	51	A1V
23	Gacrux	γ Cru	1.63	-2.1	88	M3.5III
24	Bellatrix	γ Ori	1.64	-2.7	243	B2III
25	Elnath	β Tau	1.65	-1.0	131	B7III
26	Miaplacidus	β Car	1.67	-1.5	111	A1III
27	Alnair	α Gru	1.74	-0.5	101	B6V
28	Alioth	ε UMa	1.77	1.76	81	A0p
29	Regor	γ Vel	1.79	-4.0	342	WC8
30	Dubhe	α UMa	1.79	-0.6	123	F7II-III
31	Alkaid	η UMa	1.86	-0.5	104	B3V
32	Menkent	θ Cen	1.96	-1.1	33	K0II-III
33	Mirfak	α Per	1.79	-2.0	520	F5Ib
34	Wezen	δ CMa	1.83	-5.3	1,600	F8Iab
35	Suhail	λ Vel	2.21	-3.0	570	B2IV
36	Peacock	α Pav	1.94	-3.5	180	B2IV
37	Alphard	α Hya	1.97	-0.9	177	K3II-III
38	Diphda	β Ceti	2.04	0.0	33	K0III
39	Mirzam	β CMa	1.98	-3.5	500	B1II-III
40	Alpheratz	α And	2.06	0.1	97	B8IVpMnHg
41	Hamal	α Ari	2.00	0.6	66	K2III
42	Polaris	α UMi	1.98	-3.6	433	F7Ib
43	Schedar	α Cas	2.24	-1.4	230	K0III
44	Caph	β Cas	2.28	0.6	55	F2III-IV
45	Algieba	γ Leo	2.01	0.4	130	K1III
46	Rasalhague	α Oph	2.07	0.3	49	A5III
47	Gienah	γ Cyg	2.21	-1.1	720	B2III
48	Alnath	β Tau	1.65	-1.0	131	B7III
49	Avior	ε Car	1.86	-1.3	630	K0II
50	Menkar	α Cet	2.53	-1.0	220	M1III

Source: ESO – European Southern Observatory.