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Sun
This is a very special star located at the center of the Solar System. The average distance between the Sun and Earth is approximately 149.6 million km, and it takes 8 minutes and 9 seconds for sunlight to reach Earth. Due to this, it has an extremely bright appearance when shining on Earth, completely overshadowing the brightness of other stars. The apparent magnitude of the Sun is -26.73m. Throughout Earth, the presence of sunlight is called daytime, and its absence is called nighttime. This misconception has led people to think that the Sun is not a star.
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The brightness of these stars makes them stand out among the galaxies with countless other “siblings.” Now, let’s admire the most dazzling “glows” as we head into the night!
1 – Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the Canis Major constellation and also the brightest star in the night sky. This star has an apparent magnitude of -1.46m and is actually a binary star with a 50-year orbital period around each other. (If you are unfamiliar with the apparent magnitude, you can refer to the note at the end of the article.) Sirius is located 8.7 light-years away from Earth.
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Its name comes from Greek, meaning “burning” due to its exceptional brightness. In Vietnamese, Sirius is often referred to as “Sao Thiên Lang” (Sirius Star) because its appearance resembles a giant hound lying in the sky.
2 – Canopus
Canopus is the brightest star in the Carina constellation and the second brightest star in the night sky. Canopus is a supergiant star with an apparent magnitude of -0.62m and is located 313 light-years away from Earth. In Greek mythology, Canopus was the leader of the troops of King Menelaus, while in the astronomy of the East, Canopus means “Southern Pole Star” (the Elder of the South).
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3 – Rigil Kentaurus
Rigil Kentaurus is the brightest star in the Centaurus constellation and the closest star to the Sun, located at a distance of 4.36 light-years. Rigil Kentaurus is a binary star with an 80-year orbital period. A faint star in this star system has an apparent magnitude of 11, and Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Sun at a distance of 4.24 light-years (commonly known as “Cận tinh” in Vietnamese). In Arabic, Rigil Kentaurus means “foot of the centaur.”
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4 – Arcturus
Arcturus is the brightest star in the Boötes constellation, also known as Alpha Bootis. It is the fourth brightest star in the night sky, located at a distance of 37 light-years from Earth, with an apparent magnitude of -0.01m. In Greek, Arcturus means “Guardian of the Bear,” as it appears to move annually in the night sky around the Ursa Major constellation (as this constellation is close to the North Celestial Pole).
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5 – Vega
Vega is the brightest star in the Lyra constellation and the fifth brightest star in the night sky. Vega is located at a distance of 25 light-years from Earth, with an apparent magnitude of 0.03m. In Vietnamese, this star is often referred to as “Sao Chức Nữ” (Vega Star). It, along with two other stars, Deneb and Altair (the Aquila star, commonly known as “Sao Ngưu Lang” in Vietnamese), forms the Summer Triangle.
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