Brightest Stars | EarthSky

Menkar is the Whale’s alpha star

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 8 months ago

It’s not the most famous star in Cetus the Whale, or the brightest, although it carries the designation Alpha. But Menkar has its own claims to fame.

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 9 months ago

Hamal is the brightest star in Aries the Ram. How to find it in your sky.

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 9 months ago

Almach looks like 1 star to the eye and like a colorful duo through a telescope. But today we know Almach as 4 stars.

By Larry Sessions in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 9 months ago

Achernar – aka Alpha Eridani – is the 9th brightest star in the sky and the flattest star known.

By Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

The star Al Risha in the constellation Pisces is not bright. But – at the tip of the graceful V in Pisces – it’s very noticeable.

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

What’s the scariest star in all the heavens? Around Halloween, look for Algol – a star named for a demon!

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

The orange-colored star Mirach in the constellation Andromeda acts as your guide star to 3 different galaxies.

By Bruce McClure in Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

Look for Deneb Kaitos – brightest star in Cetus the Whale – highest in the sky around mid-evening.

By EarthSky in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

Cassiopeia the Queen is one of the easiest-to-recognize constellations, having the shape of an M or W, Schedar is the Queen’s brightest star.

By Larry Sessions and Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

Finding the star Alpheratz can help you spot the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest large spiral galaxy to Earth.