Rigel
star · Orion · 0.2ᵐ
Rigel is a blue-white supergiant star in the Milky Way galaxy, about 860 light-years from Earth. Also called Beta Orionis, it marks one of Orion’s feet. Orion is the constellation in which we see Rigel, not a separate galaxy.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Rigel around the year 1163.
About 213 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
What galaxy is the Rigel star in?
Rigel belongs to the Milky Way, the same galaxy as the Sun. Its constellation is Orion: a region of our sky, rather than a galaxy or a group of stars all at the same distance.
Can you see Rigel without a telescope?
Yes. Rigel is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is visible to the naked eye, including from many towns and cities when Orion is above the horizon.
Is Rigel the same star as Rigil Kentaurus?
No. Rigel is Beta Orionis in Orion. Rigil Kentaurus is Alpha Centauri A in the southern constellation Centaurus; the similar names refer to different stars.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 5h 15m · −8° 12′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Orion
- How to observe
- 0.2ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B8Ia — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -6.9ᵐ
- Luminosity (visual)
- ≈51,000 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~863 light years
- Designation
- HIP 24436
Observing tip
Start with the naked eye and compare Rigel’s blue-white light with orange-red Betelgeuse across Orion’s Belt. Observe when both stars are well above the horizon: low-altitude haze and atmospheric twinkling can make their colours harder to judge.
How to find Rigel in Orion
Find Orion’s Belt, the conspicuous row of three stars called Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Then look for the two bright stars on opposite sides of the Belt: blue-white Rigel marks a foot of the hunter, while orange-red Betelgeuse marks a shoulder.
Use the Belt and the colour contrast rather than a fixed “bottom-right” position. Orion’s orientation changes with your hemisphere and the time of night. In AstroGaze, set your observing location and time, search for Rigel, and use its position on the map to choose the correct star.
When is Rigel visible?
Orion is a prominent evening constellation around December through March. This is winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Rigel can also be seen at other times of year if you observe at a suitable hour.
Your latitude, the date and the time determine whether Rigel is above your horizon. The tables below show its maximum altitude by latitude and its approximate monthly culmination time; use the live sky map for your local view tonight.
What will Rigel look like in binoculars or a telescope?
Binoculars make the surrounding star field easier to explore, but Rigel itself remains a bright point. A normal backyard telescope does not show a resolved surface or the enormous blue disk suggested by some illustrations.
Rigel belongs to a multiple-star system with much fainter companions. Seeing a companion beside the brilliant primary is a more demanding telescope observation than simply finding Rigel; steady air, a well-adjusted telescope and control of glare matter. Do not expect the companions to stand out in an ordinary binocular view.
Explore Orion
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 22° | 107° |
| +55° | 27° | 104° |
| +45° | 37° | 102° |
| +30° | 52° | 99° |
| 0° | 82° | 98° |
| −35° | 63° | 100° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 21:29 |
| February | 19:22 |
| March | 17:36 |
| April | 15:43 |
| May | 13:49 |
| June | 11:43 |
| July | 09:39 |
| August | 07:38 |
| September | 05:45 |
| October | 03:56 |
| November | 01:55 |
| December | 23:47 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.