Map of the Universe
Sirius
Star · Brightest star in Earth's night sky
About Sirius
Sirius is about 8.60 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 8.60 years ago.
At apparent magnitude -1.44 it can be seen with the naked eye from a dark site.
It gives out 22.8 times as much light as the Sun.
The map lists it as a star and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The brightest star in the night sky.
Key numbers
| Distance | 8.60 light-years (2.64 pc) |
|---|---|
| Spectral type | A0m... |
| Apparent magnitude | -1.44 |
| Absolute magnitude | 1.45 |
| Luminosity | 22.8 × the Sun |
| Constellation | CMa |
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Solar neighbourhood › Local Bubble › Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: Nearest stars, a view about 24 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, located in the southern constellation of Canis Major. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek word Σείριος. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Romanized to Alpha Canis Majoris, and abbreviated α CMa or Alpha CMa.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Sirius, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- Procyon Star
- Ross 614 Star
- Kapteyn's Star Star
- Epsilon Eridani Star
- Wolf 359 Star
- GJ 1111 Star