The blue star Rigel lights up a nearby nebula
Click on image for star map
© Matt BenDaniel
Rigel - Bluish-white Supergiant
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What's in a Name: |
Arabic for "foot"
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Claim to Fame:
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One of the galaxy's brightest stars. Apparent visual magnitude = 0.1 |
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Type of Star: | Brilliant bluish-white Supergiant (B8 1a Spectral Type)
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How Far Away: |
775 light years away |
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How Big: |
70 times the sun's diameter |
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How Bright: | 40,000 times the sun's luminosity (Absolute visual magnitude = - 6.8)
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Where to View: | Brightest star in Orion (Star Map).
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When to View: | December through March from Northern middle latitudes |
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