Stars · Star in Orion
Star
Alnilam
The middle star of Orion’s Belt, a blue supergiant — farther and more luminous than either of its neighbours.
- Constellation
- Orion
- Designation
- ε Orionis
- Apparent magnitude
- 1.69 · 31st brightest star in the night sky
- Spectral class
- B0Ia
- Distance
- 1,977 light-years
- Position (J2000)
- RA 5h 36m · Dec −1° 12′
A blue-white supergiant, around 30,000 K, like Rigel and Spica. About 84× brighter than the faintest star the eye can see. The light you are seeing left around 49.
Other skies
The three Belt stars are the Three Kings, the Three Marys, Frigg’s Distaff, and in parts of Africa, three zebras chased by a hunter.