Stars · Star in Scorpius
Star
Antares
The scorpion’s heart — “rival of Mars” — a red supergiant so large that, in place of the Sun, it would reach beyond the orbit of Mars.
- Constellation
- Scorpius
- Designation
- α Scorpii
- Apparent magnitude
- 1.06 · 17th brightest star in the night sky
- Spectral class
- M1Ib + B2.5V
- Distance
- 554 light-years
- Position (J2000)
- RA 16h 29m · Dec −26° 26′
A red supergiant, around 3,600 K, like Betelgeuse. About 150× brighter than the faintest star the eye can see. The light you are seeing left around 1472.
Look for
Mars passes nearby every two years or so, and the two red points really do look like rivals.
Other skies
In China it is the Great Fire, Dahuo, the heart of the Azure Dragon; in Polynesia, Rehua, a chief of the heavens.