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Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis)

Rigel, also designated as β Orionis (beta Orionis), is a variable and multiple supergiant star in the constellation of Orion.

Rigel visual magnitude is 0.12, making it the 7th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Rigel is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about Rigel:

Color of Rigel ⬤

Magnitude of Rigel 0.12

Class Supergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 24°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Rigel

Rigel is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Rigel are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 05h 14m 32s

Declination J2000 -08° 12’ 06”

Galactic Longitude 209.24°

Galactic Latitude -25.25°

Constellation Orion

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Rigel in the sky:

Finder chart Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis) star

Simplified finder chart for Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis).

Visibility of Rigel from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 98.2° RISE 11:46

Max altitude: 30.3° TRANSIT 17:02

Azimuth: 261.8° SET 22:19

RIGHT NOW Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Rigel

The image below is a photograph of Rigel from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of Rigel is 0 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.001 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Rigel - β Orionis (beta Orionis) star

DSS2 image of Rigel. The red arrow shows the motion of Rigel during the next 100000 years (0.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Rigel from the Sun and relative movement

Rigel is distant 772.51 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 21 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 236.97 pc

Distance (light year) 772.51 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 21 km/s

Proper Motion Dec -0.001 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Rigel

Rigel belongs to spectral class B8 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -6.75

Spectral Type B8I

Color Index (B-V) -0.03

Temperature of Rigel 10516K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where Rigel is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of Rigel. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Rigel star system properties

Rigel is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the Rigel double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 0.12

Secondary star magnitude 6.62

Magnitude difference 6.5

Separation 9.5 arcsec

Alternative designations of Rigel

Proper Name Rigel

Bayer designation β Orionis
(beta Orionis)

Flamsteed designation 19 Orionis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD34085

SAO Catalogue SAO131907

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP24436

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-08 1063

FK5 Catalogue 194

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 1882

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS3823

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Other stars in Orion