Castor, Alpha Geminorum (α Gem), is a sextuple star system located at a distance of 51 ly from Earth in the constellation Gemini. It consists of three binary pairs.| Star Facts
Gemini (the Twins) is one of the northern zodiac constellations. It is home to the bright stars Pollux and Castor, the open cluster Messier 35, the planetary nebula known as the Medusa Nebula, and the supernova remnant IC 443 (the Jellyfish Nebula).| www.constellation-guide.com
Equatorial constellations are the 15 constellations that intersect the celestial equator. These are among the most universally recognizable constellations in the sky, visible from most places on Earth. They culminate highest when seen from locations near the equator.| www.constellation-guide.com
Monoceros is a relatively faint northern constellation located between Canis Major and Canis Minor. It is home to the famous variable star V838 Monocerotis, the open cluster Messier 50, and the Rosette Nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Hydra is the largest constellation in the sky. Located in the southern celestial hemisphere, the constellation contains the open cluster Messier 48, the Porpoise Galaxy (NGC 2936), and the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83).| www.constellation-guide.com
Boötes (the Herdsman or Plowman) is a large northern constellation dominated by a kite-shaped asterism. The constellation is home to Arcturus, the brightest northern star, and the contrasting double star Izar.| www.constellation-guide.com
Rigel (β Ori) is a blue-whlue-white supergiant star located 848 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is the most luminous star within 1,000 ly of Earth.| Star Facts
Lepus is a northern constellation located just south of Orion. It contains the white supergiant Arneb, the famous variable star R Leporis (Hind's Crimson Star), the globular cluster Messier 79, and the Spirograph Nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Orion, the Hunter, is one of the best known constellations in the sky. Home to Orion's Belt, the Orion Nebula, and the bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse, the constellation lies north of the celestial equator and is visible from both hemispheres.| www.constellation-guide.com
Canis Major is a constellation in the southern sky. It represents the bigger dog following Orion, the Hunter. The constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, and the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy.| www.constellation-guide.com
Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis (α Ori), is a red supergiant star and supernova candidate located 548 light-years away in the constellation Orion. Marking the Hunter's shoulder, it is one of the most recognizable stars in the night sky.| Star Facts
Sirius, Alpha Canis Majoris (α CMa), is the brightest star in the sky. The Sirius star system lies at a distance of 8.6 ly from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. It can be found using the stars of Orion's Belt.| Star Facts
Gamma Cassiopeiae (γ Cas) is a spectroscopic binary star located at a distance of 550 light years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is the central star of Cassiopeia's W.| Star Facts
Virgo is the second largest constellation in the sky. It is home to the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, and Spica, one of the brightest stars in the sky.| www.constellation-guide.com
Taurus is a large constellation in the northern sky. It is home to Aldebaran, one of the brightest stars in the sky, the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, and the Pleiades and the Hyades, the nearest open clusters to Earth.| www.constellation-guide.com
Procyon, Alpha Canis Minoris (α CMi), is the eighth brightest star in the sky. It is the primary component in a binary star system located 11.46 light-years away in the constellation Canis Minor.| Star Facts
The list of all the named stars (stars with names that have been formally approved by the IAU), with name origins and etymologies explained.| Star Facts
The Winter Triangle, or the Great Southern Triangle, is an asterism formed by the bright stars Betelgeuse in Orion, Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major constellation.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Winter Hexagon, or the Winter Circle, is a prominent asterism formed by the bright stars Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Castor and Pollux, Procyon and Sirius.| www.constellation-guide.com
Pollux, Beta Geminorum (β Gem), is an orange giant star located at a distance of 33.78 ly in the constellation Gemini. It is 43 times more luminous than the Sun.| Star Facts
Aldebaran, Alpha Tauri (α Tau), is an orange giant star located at a distance of 65.3 ly from Earth in the constellation Taurus. It marks the eye of the Bull.| Star Facts
The list of the 300 brightest stars in the night sky, along with the stars' Bayer designations, apparent magnitudes, distances, and spectral types.| Star Facts