This is a list of the nearest supergiant stars to Earth, located at a distance of up to 1,100 light-years (340 parsecs) from Earth. Some of the brightest stars in the night sky, such as Rigel and Antares, are in the list.
While supergiants are typically defined as stars with luminosity classes Ia, Iab or Ib, other definitions exist, such as those based on stellar evolution. [1] Therefore, stars with other luminosity classes can sometimes be considered supergiants.
Name | Distance (ly) | Spectral type | Stellar radius (R☉) | Stellar mass (M☉) | Apparent magnitude (V) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canopus | 309 [2] | A9II [3] | 73.3 ± 5.2 [2] | 9.81 ± 1.83 [2] | −0.74 [4] | While it is frequently described as a yellow supergiant, especially in evolutionary terms, [2] it is classified as a bright giant based on spectrum. [3] |
Sargas (θ Scorpii A) | 329±9 [5] | F0Ib-F1III [6] or F0 II [7] | 35.5 × 26.3 [5] | 3.1+0.37 −0.32 [5] | 1.862 [8] | Either a lower luminosity supergiant or a (bright) giant, formed after stellar merger of two smaller stars |
Rasalgethi (α Herculis Aa) | 360 [9] | M5 Ib-II [10] | 284 ± 60 [10] | 2.5 [10] | 3.35 [8] | Possibly a bright giant |
Rastaban (β Draconis) | 380±4 [9] | G2Ib-IIa [11] | 41.4 ± 2.4 or 46.5 ± 2.7 [12] [lower-alpha 1] | 6±0.2 [13] | 2.79 [13] | |
Betelgeuse | 408 [14] –548+90 −49 [15] | M1-M2Ia-ab [16] | 640 [17] –764+116 −62 [15] | 16.5 – 19 [15] | 0.5 [18] (0.0 – 1.6) [19] | The nearest non-disputed (uncontroversial) red supergiant, and the 10th brightest star in the night sky. |
α Trianguli Australis | 420±32 [20] | K2Ib-IIa [20] | 143 [20] [lower-alpha 2] | 7 [20] | 1.91 [21] | Either a supergiant or bright giant |
ζ Capricorni | 441±16 [22] | G4Ib: Ba2 [16] | 31±2 [23] | 4.5+0.3 −0.2 [24] | 3.77 [25] | |
Polaris | 446±1 [26] | F7Ib-F8Ib [27] [28] | 46.27±0.42 [26] | 5.13±0.28 [26] | 1.98 [29] (1.86 – 2.13) [27] | |
Mirfak (α Persei) | 510±10 [9] | F5Ib [13] | 53.1+1.4 −1.45 [30] | 7.3 ± 0.3 [13] | 1.806 [13] | 35th brightest star in the night sky. |
Sadalsuud (β Aquarii) | 541+6 −5 [22] | G0Ib [13] | 47.88+1.68 −1.81 [31] | 6.4±0.3 [13] | 2.87 [32] | |
Suhail (λ Velorum) | 545±10 [9] | K4Ib [16] | 211±6 [33] | 7.0+1.5 −1.1 [33] | 2.21 [32] (2.14 – 2.30) [34] | |
Antares | 553.5±94 [9] | M1.5Iab-Ib [16] | 680 [35] | 11 [35] –16 [14] | 0.6 –1.6 [36] | 15th brightest star in the night sky. |
κ Pavonis | 590±30 [37] | F5-G5 I-II [38] | 19 –25 [39] | 4.35 [40] (3.91 - 4.78) [41] | ||
Saiph | 650±30 [9] | B0.5Ia [42] | 14 [43] | 15.5±1.25 [44] | 2.09 [45] | The closest blue supergiant. |
Enif (ε Pegasi) | 690±20 [9] | K2Ib-II [16] | 178 [46] | 11– 12 [14] | 2.399 [9] (2.37 – 2.45) [47] | |
Sadalmelik (α Aquarii) | 691+40 −56 [22] | G2Ib [13] | 70 [48] [lower-alpha 3] | 6.5±0.3 [13] | 2.942 [50] | |
β Arae | 713+39 −34 [22] | K3Ib-II [51] | 141.4±6.6 [52] | 8.21 [53] | 2.84 [54] | |
ζ Persei | 750±30 [9] to 1,200±300 [55] | B1Ib [56] | 16.7 [44] [lower-alpha 4] to 26.1 [57] | 14.5±1.9 [44] | 2.86 [58] | |
Aspidiske (ι Carinae) | 770±20 [9] | A7Ib [59] | 46.4–50.1 [60] | 6.9 [60] | 2.21 [54] | |
Ahadi (π Puppis) | 810±70 [9] | K3Ib [61] | 235 [46] | 11.7 [62] | 2.733 [63] | |
Rigel | 848±65 [64] | B8Ia [65] | 74.1+6.1 −7.3 [31] | 21±3 [66] | 0.13 [4] (0.05 – 0.18) [67] | 7th brightest star in the night sky. |
χ Aquilae | 853±114 [9] | G8Ib [68] | 23.3 [46] | 5.8 [68] | ||
ζ Aurigae A | 860±10 [69] | K5Ib [33] | 148±3 [70] | 5.8±0.2 [70] | 3.751 [71] (3.70 –3.97) [41] | Sometimes considered a red supergiant; [1] possible bright giant [72] |
Mebsuta (ε Geminorum) | 861+52 −39 [22] | G8Ib [73] | 130.2+5.5 −6 [31] | 5.29±0.4 [31] | 3.06 [74] | |
β Camelopardalis | 870±50 [9] | G1Ib–IIa [13] | 58±13 [75] | 6.5±0.4 [13] | 4.02 [4] | |
η Aquilae A | 885.4+41.7 −45, [22] 1010±33 [76] | F6Ib–G4Ib [77] | 59±2 [76] | 5.7 [78] | 3.48 –4.33 [79] | |
δ Cephei A | 887±26 [80] [81] | F5Ib-G1Ib [82] [83] | 46.07+1.9 −2.1 [30] | 5.26+1.26 −1.40 [84] | 3.48 – 4.37 [82] | Protoype of the Classical Cepheid variable stars. |
ζ Cephei | 993+51 −46 [22] | K1.5Ib [42] | 172.7+7.5 −8.3 [30] | 10.1±0.1 [85] | 3.35 [86] | |
Miram (η Persei) | 1000±60 [87] | K3Ib [88] | 173.1+9.69 −10.8 [49] | 8±0.4 [62] | 3.79 [4] | |
β Doradus | 1040±50 [89] –1140±13 [90] | F4-G4Ia-II [91] [92] | 67.8±0.7 [90] | 7.7±0.2 [62] | 3.46 – 4.08 [91] | |
Naos (ζ Puppis) | 1080±40 [9] | O4If(n)p [93] | 13.5 ± 0.2 [94] | 25.3 ± 5.3 [94] | 2.24 – 2.26 [95] |
Solar radius is a unit of distance used to express the size of stars in astronomy relative to the Sun. The solar radius is usually defined as the radius to the layer in the Sun's photosphere where the optical depth equals 2/3:
Eta Aquilae is a multiple star in the equatorial constellation of Aquila, the eagle. It was once part of the former constellation Antinous. Its apparent visual magnitude varies between 3.49 and 4.3, making it one of the brighter members of Aquila. Based upon parallax measurements made by the Gaia spacecraft on its third data release (DR3), this star is located at a distance of roughly 272 parsecs. The primary component is a Classical Cepheid variable.
Delta Trianguli Australis, Latinized from δ Trianguli Australis, is a solitary, yellow-hued star in the constellation Triangulum Australe. It has an apparent magnitude of 3.84, making it readily visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions, Parallax measurements place the object at a distance of 606 light years. It has a heliocentric radial velocity of −4.9 km/s, indicating that it is drifting towards the Solar System.
RT Aurigae is a yellow supergiant variable star in the constellation Auriga, about 1,500 light years from Earth.
Sher 25 is a blue supergiant star in the constellation Carina, located approximately 25,000 light years from the Sun in the H II region NGC 3603 of the Milky Way. It is a spectral type B1Iab star with an apparent magnitude of 12.2. Its initial main sequence mass is calculated at 60 times the mass of the Sun, but a star of this type will have already lost a substantial fraction of that mass. It is unclear whether Sher 25 has been through a red supergiant phase or has just evolved from the main sequence, so the current mass is very uncertain.
Zeta Cephei is a red supergiant star, located about 1000 light-years away in the constellation of Cepheus. Zeta Cephei marks the left shoulder of Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia. It is one of the fundamental stars of the MK spectral sequence, defined as type K1.5 Ib.
FF Aquilae is a classical Cepheid variable star located in the constellation Aquila, close to the border with Hercules. It ranges from apparent magnitude 5.18 to 5.51 over a period of 4.47 days, meaning it is faintly visible to the unaided eye in rural or suburban settings.
HD 115337 is a binary star located in the northern circumpolar constellation Camelopardalis. The pair have a combined apparent magnitude of 6.25, placing it near the limit for naked eye visibility. Parallax measurements place the system at a distance of 698 light years. It has a heliocentric radial velocity of −9.4 km/s, indicating that it is drifting towards the Solar System.
TZ Cassiopeiae(TZ Cas, HIP 117763, SAO 20912) is a variable star in the constellation Cassiopeia with an apparent magnitude of around +9 to +10. It is approximately 8,400 light-years away from Earth. The star is a red supergiant star with a spectral type of M3 and a temperature around 3,600 K.
HD 203842, also known as HR 8191 or rarely 30 G. Equueli, is a solitary, yellowish-white hued star located in the constellation Equuleus. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.32, placing it near the limit for naked eye visibility, even under ideal conditions. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements imply a distance of 374 light years, and it is currently drifting closer with a somewhat constrained heliocentric radial velocity of −21.8 km/s. At its current distance HD 203842's brightness is diminished by 0.15 magnitudes due to interstellar dust and it has an absolute magnitude of +1.06.
NR Vulpeculae is a red supergiant and irregular variable star in the constellation Vulpecula. It has an apparent magnitude varying between 9.13 and 9.61, which is too faint to be seen to the naked eye.
HD 22764, also known as HR 1112, is an orange hued star located in the northern circumpolar constellation Camelopardalis. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.78, allowing it to be faintly visible to the naked eye. The object is located relatively far at a distance of approximately 1,770 light years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements but is approaching the Solar System with a heliocentric radial velocity of −12.5 km/s. At its current distance, HD 22764's brightness is diminished by 0.66 magnitudes due to interstellar dust.
X Cygni is a variable star in the northern constellation of Cygnus, abbreviated X Cyg. This is a Delta Cephei variable that ranges in brightness from an apparent visual magnitude of 5.85 down to 6.91 with a period of 16.386332 days. At it brightest, this star is dimly visible to the naked eye. The distance to this star is approximately 628 light years based on parallax measurements. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 8.1 km/s. This star is a likely member of the open cluster Ruprecht 173.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)