150 Brightest Stars – PolyWogg.ca

Using a combination of the RASC Observers’ Handbook and an online list by Jim Kaler, I’ve compiled a list of the 150 brightest stars for observing and potentially imaging. My list is not as neat as RASC’s or Kaler’s, as I grouped anything with a companion or binary star into simply “doubles” and separated some of them into two separate headings where Kaler had them together. I also cut the final list at an arbitrary 150.

For the purposes of a log, and separate from possible photos, some of the details that I will consider recording include: Location; Date/time; Sky conditions; Equipment; Mode: GoTo/Manual; EP/Magnification; Camera settings; Pre-Planning; Star Tools; Problems encountered or overcome; Initial comments upon seeing the object, such as size, shape, phase, visibility, brightness, colour, details, unique features, or other surrounding objects; and, Detailed comments such as steadiness, sub-features, impact of trying different filters, are there bright cores or dark voids, and how dense are the features.

Rank	Name	Greek name	Distance (LY)	Magnitude	Number	Colour	Type	Link
1	Sirius	Alpha CMa	8.6	-1.46	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
2	Canopus	Alpha Car	309	-0.72	1	Yellow-White	Bright Giant	tbd
3	Arcturus	Alpha Boo	37	-0.04	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
4	Rigil Kentaurus A	Alpha Cen A	4.36	-0.01	2	Yellow	Dwarf	tbd
5	Vega	Alpha Lyr	25	0.03	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
6	Capella	Alpha Aur	43	0.08	2	Yellow	Giant	tbd
7	Rigel	Beta Ori	860	0.12	2	Blue-White	Super Giant	tbd
8	Procyon	Alpha CMi	11.5	0.34	2	Yellow-White	Sub-giant	tbd
9	Achernar	Alpha Eri	140	0.46	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
10	Hadar	Beta Cen	392	0.61	2	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
11	Betelgeuse	Alpha Ori	570	0.7	1	Red	Super Giant	tbd
12	Altair	Alpha Aql	16.7	0.77	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
13	Aldebaran	Alpha Tau	67	0.85	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
14	Antares	Alpha Sco	550	0.96	1	Red	Super Giant	tbd
15	Spica	Alpha Vir	250	1.04	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
16	Pollux	Beta Gem	34	1.14	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
17	Fomalhaut	Alpha PsA	25	1.16	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
18	Mimosa	Beta Cru	280	1.25	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
19	Deneb	Alpha Cyg	1425	1.25	1	White	Super Giant	tbd
20	Acrux A	Alpha Cru A	325	1.3	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
21	Rigil Kentaurus B	Alpha Cen B	4.36	1.33	2	Orange	Dwarf	tbd
22	Regulus	Alpha Leo	79	1.35	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
23	Adhara	Epsilon CMa	405	1.5	2	Blue-White	Bright Giant	tbd
24	Castor	Alpha Gem	51	1.58	4	White	Dwarf	tbd
25	Gacrux	Gamma Cru	88	1.63	1	Red	Giant	tbd
26	Shaula	Lambda Sco	365	1.63	3	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
27	Bellatrix	Gamma Ori	245	1.64	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
28	Elnath	Beta Tau	130	1.65	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
29	Miaplacidus	Beta Car	111	1.68	1	White	Sub-giant	tbd
30	Alnilam	Epsilon Ori	1340	1.7	1	Blue-White	Super Giant	tbd
31	Alnitak	Zeta Ori	815	1.74	2	Blue	Giant	tbd
32	Al Nair	Alpha Gru	101	1.74	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
33	Alioth	Epsilon UMa	81	1.77	1	White	Magnetic Star	tbd
34	Regor	Gamma-2 Vel	1200	1.78	1	Blue	Binary Star	tbd
35	Dubhe	Alpha UMa	124	1.79	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
36	Mirfak	Alpha Per	590	1.79	1	Yellow-White	Super Giant	tbd
37	Acrux B	Alpha Cru B	325	1.8	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
38	Wezen	Delta CMa	1800	1.84	1	Yellow-White	Super Giant	tbd
39	Kaus Australis	Epsilon Sgr	143	1.85	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
40	Alkaid	Eta UMa	101	1.86	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
41	Avior	Epsilon Car	630	1.86	2	Orange	Dwarf	tbd
42	Girtab	Theta Sco	272	1.87	1	Yellow-White	Bright Giant	tbd
43	Menkalinan	Beta Aur	82	1.9	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
44	Atria	Alpha TrA	415	1.92	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
45	Alhena	Gamma Gem	105	1.93	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
46	Peacock	Alpha Pav	183	1.94	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
47	Delta Vel	Delta Vel	80	1.96	5	White	Dwarf	tbd
48	Mirzam	Beta CMa	500	1.98	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
49	Alphard	Alpha Hya	177	1.98	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
50	Algieba	Gamma Leo	131	1.99	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
51	Hamal	Alpha Ari	66	2	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
52	Polaris	Alpha UMi	430	2.02	3	Yellow-White	Bright Giant	tbd
53	Nunki	Sigma Sgr	225	2.02	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
54	Deneb Kaitos	Beta Cet	96	2.04	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
55	Saiph	Kappa Ori	720	2.06	1	Blue-White	Super Giant	tbd
56	Alpheratz	Alpha And	97	2.06	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
57	Mizar	Zeta UMa	78	2.06	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
58	Menkent	Theta Cen	61	2.06	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
59	Mirach	Beta And	200	2.06	2	Red	Giant	tbd
60	Rasalhague	Alpha Oph	47	2.08	2	White	Giant	tbd
61	Kochab	Beta UMi	126	2.08	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
62	Beta Gru	Beta Gru	170	2.1	1	Red	Giant	tbd
63	Algol	Beta Per	93	2.12	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
64	Denebola	Beta Leo	36	2.14	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
65	Almach	Gamma And	355	2.16	2	Orange	Dwarf	tbd
66	Muhlifain	Gamma Cen	130	2.17	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
67	Sadr	Gamma Cyg	1500	2.2	1	Yellow-White	Super Giant	tbd
68	Suhail	Lambda Vel	575	2.21	1	Orange	Bright Giant	tbd
69	Mintaka	Delta Ori	915	2.23	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
70	Alphecca	Alpha CrB	75	2.23	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
71	Shedar	Alpha Cas	230	2.23	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
72	Eltanin	Gamma Dra	148	2.23	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
73	Naos	Zeta Pup	970	2.25	1	Blue	Super Giant	tbd
74	Aspidiske	Iota Car	690	2.25	1	White	Super Giant	tbd
75	Caph	Beta Cas	54	2.27	2	Yellow-White	Sub-giant	tbd
76	Eps Sco	Epsilon Sco	65	2.29	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
77	Eps Cen	Epsilon Cen	375	2.3	2	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
78	Kakkab	Alpha Lup	550	2.3	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
79	Eta Cen	Eta Cen	310	2.31	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
80	Dschubba	Delta Sco	400	2.32	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
81	Merak	Beta UMa	79	2.37	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
82	Ankaa	Alpha Phe	77	2.39	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
83	Enif	Epsilon Peg	670	2.39	1	Orange	Super Giant	tbd
84	Kappa Sco	Kappa Sco	450	2.41	2	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
85	Scheat	Beta Peg	200	2.42	1	Red	Giant	tbd
86	Sabik	Eta Oph	84	2.43	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
87	Phecda	Gamma UMa	84	2.44	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
88	Alderamin	Alpha Cep	49	2.44	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
89	Aludra	Eta CMa	3200	2.45	1	Blue-White	Super Giant	tbd
90	Gienah Cygni	Epsilon Cyg	72	2.46	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
91	Gamma Cas	Gamma Cas	549	2.47	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
92	Markab	Alpha Peg	140	2.49	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
93	Graffias	Beta Sco	530	2.5	2	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
94	Markeb	Kappa Vel	540	2.5	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
95	Menkar	Alpha Cet	220	2.53	1	Red	Giant	tbd
96	Zeta Cen	Zeta Cen	385	2.55	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
97	Zeta Oph	Zeta Oph	460	2.56	1	Blue	Dwarf	tbd
98	Zosma	Delta Leo	58	2.56	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
99	Arneb	Alpha Lep	1300	2.58	1	Yellow-White	Super Giant	tbd
100	Gienah	Gamma Crv	165	2.59	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
101	Izar	Epsilon Boo	205	2.59	2	Orange	Dwarf	tbd
102	Delta Cen	Delta Cen	395	2.6	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
103	Zubeneschamali	Beta Lib	160	2.61	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
104	Ascella	Zeta Sgr	89	2.61	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
105	Theta Aur	Theta Aur	173	2.62	2	White	Super Giant	tbd
106	Phact	Alpha Col	270	2.64	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
107	Sheratan	Beta Ari	60	2.64	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
108	Kraz	Beta Crv	140	2.65	1	Yellow	Bright Giant	tbd
109	Unukalhai	Alpha Ser	73	2.65	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
110	Beta Lup	Beta Lup	524	2.68	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
111	Ruchbah	Delta Cas	99	2.68	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
112	Muphrid	Eta Boo	37	2.68	1	Yellow	Sub-giant	tbd
113	Lesath	Upsilon Sco	520	2.69	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
114	Alpha Mus	Alpha Mus	305	2.69	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
115	Mu Vel	Mu Vel	116	2.69	2	Yellow	Dwarf	tbd
116	Al Kab	Iota Aur	510	2.69	1	Orange	Bright Giant	tbd
117	Pi Pup	Pi Pup	925	2.7	1	Orange	Super Giant	tbd
118	Kaus Media	Delta Sgr	305	2.7	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
119	Tarazed	Gamma Aql	460	2.72	1	Orange	Bright Giant	tbd
120	Porrima	Gamma Vir	38	2.74	2	Yellow-White	Dwarf	tbd
121	Al Dhibain Prior	Eta Dra	88	2.74	2	Yellow	Giant	tbd
122	Yed Prior	Delta Oph	170	2.74	1	Red	Giant	tbd
123	Iota Cen	Iota Cen	59	2.75	1	White	Dwarf	tbd
124	Zubenelgenubi	Alpha-2 Lib	77	2.75	2	White	Sub-giant	tbd
125	Theta Car	Theta Car	440	2.76	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
126	Nair al Saif	Iota Ori	1300	2.77	2	Blue	Giant	tbd
127	Kornephoros	Beta Her	148	2.77	2	Yellow	Giant	tbd
128	Cebalrai	Beta Oph	82	2.77	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
129	Gamma Lup	Gamma Lup	421	2.78	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
130	Cursa	Beta Eri	89	2.79	1	White	Giant	tbd
131	Rastaban	Beta Dra	362	2.79	2	Yellow	Super Giant	tbd
132	Delta Cru	Delta Cru	364	2.8	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
133	Beta Hyi	Beta Hyi	24.4	2.8	1	Yellow	Sub-giant	tbd
134	Cor Caroli	Alpha CVn	110	2.81	2	White	Magnetic Star	tbd
135	Tureis	Rho Pup	63	2.81	1	Yellow-White	Bright Giant	tbd
136	Zeta Her	Zeta Her	35	2.81	2	Yellow	Sub-giant	tbd
137	Kaus Borealis	Lambda Sgr	77	2.81	1	Orange	Giant	tbd
138	Al Niyat	Tau Sco	430	2.82	1	Blue-White	Dwarf	tbd
139	Algenib	Gamma Peg	333	2.83	1	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
140	Vindemiatrix	Epsilon Vir	102	2.83	1	Yellow	Giant	tbd
141	Nihal	Beta Lep	159	2.84	2	Yellow	Bright Giant	tbd
142	Zeta Per	Zeta Per	980	2.85	3	Blue-White	Super Giant	tbd
143	Beta TrA	Beta TrA	40	2.85	1	Yellow-White	Giant	tbd
144	Beta Ara	Beta Ara	603	2.85	1	Orange	Bright Giant	tbd
145	Alpha Hyi	Alpha Hyi	71	2.86	1	Yellow-White	Dwarf	tbd
146	Alpha Tuc	Alpha Tuc	199	2.86	2	Orange	Giant	tbd
147	Alcyone	Eta Tau	430	2.87	1	Blue-White	Giant	tbd
148	Delta Cyg	Delta Cyg	171	2.87	2	Blue-White	Sub-giant	tbd
149	Deneb Algedi	Delta Cap	39	2.87	2	White	Dwarf	tbd
150	Tejat	Mu Gem	232	2.88	1	Red	Giant	tbd