From our own Sun to red supergiants hundreds of light-years away — the brightest and most remarkable stars in our sky.
Sol · G2VThe SunYellow dwarf · 8.3 light-minutesOur own star — a middle-aged yellow dwarf holding the solar system together.
α Cen CProxima CentauriRed dwarf · 4.24 light-years · CentaurusThe closest star to the Sun, with at least one planet in its habitable zone.
Rigil KentaurusAlpha CentauriSun-like pair · 4.37 light-years · CentaurusA bright twin of Sun-like stars — the nearest stellar system to us.
α CMaSiriusBlue-white main sequence · 8.6 light-years · Canis MajorThe brightest star in the night sky, with a white-dwarf companion, 'the Pup'.
α OriBetelgeuseRed supergiant · ~640 light-years · OrionA vast, dying supergiant that could explode as a supernova — astronomically soon.
β OriRigelBlue supergiant · ~860 light-years · OrionA brilliant blue supergiant tens of thousands of times brighter than the Sun.
α LyrVegaWhite main sequence · 25 light-years · LyraA nearby bright star, once the pole star and a benchmark for brightness.
α UMiPolarisYellow supergiant · ~430 light-years · Ursa MinorThe current North Star — it sits almost exactly above Earth's north pole.
α CarCanopusWhite-yellow supergiant · ~310 light-years · CarinaThe second-brightest night star and a favourite spacecraft navigation beacon.
α BooArcturusOrange giant · 37 light-years · BoötesA speeding orange giant racing through the galaxy near our Sun.
α TauAldebaranOrange giant · 65 light-years · TaurusThe fiery 'eye of the bull', glaring out of the Hyades star cluster.
α ScoAntaresRed supergiant · ~550 light-years · ScorpiusThe 'heart of the scorpion' — a red supergiant rivalling Betelgeuse in size.
α AqlAltairWhite main sequence · 16.7 light-years · AquilaSpins so fast it bulges at its equator; a corner of the Summer Triangle.
α CygDenebBlue-white supergiant · ~1,500 light-years · CygnusOne of the most luminous stars visible — staggeringly far yet still bright.
α CMiProcyonWhite-yellow · 11.5 light-years · Canis MinorA close, bright neighbour that also hides a faint white-dwarf companion.
α PsAFomalhautWhite main sequence · 25 light-years · Piscis AustrinusRinged by a dusty debris disk where planets are forming.