2007-01-29 04:09:25 · 9 answers · asked by its me 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The brightest "star" in the nighttime sky is usually a planet. Venus is the very brightest, often appearing just after sunset or just before sunrise. Mars and Jupiter can also make an impressive appearance at times.
The brightest true star would be Sirius, visible now to the South and East of the constellation Orion. It's very bright and close, as stars go.
People think that Polaris is a bright star because it's important for navigation, but it really doesn't stand out all that much. Most people have to "find" it in relation to the "Big Dipper" constellation, rather than being able to pick it out by itself.
2007-01-29 05:24:34 · answer #1 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky that isn't the sun. It is prominently featured in the *Canis* Major constellation (not Ursa Major). It's amazing how many people think the North star is the one. Polaris (the north star) is 49th on the list. There are 48 other stars brighter than it. The only thing remarkable about it is it's proximity (about 1 degree) to the celestial north pole, hence its designation as the north star.
Venus is not a star so it really isn't a good answer. It is the brightest celestial object in the sky after the sun and moon though, this is true.
2007-01-29 16:08:29 · answer #2 · answered by Arkalius 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, general questions like this should also include where you are located. Some stars are visable in the Northern Hemisphere,
but not the Southern hemisphere. Since you didn't provide that information, my answer will be the star "Sirius" with a magnitude of -1.46. Sirius is part of the Canis Major constellation.
Canis Major was known to the ancient Greeks as one of two dogs following Orion the hunter. Sirius is one of the closer stars to us at 8.6 light years distance. The star Sirius forms the mouth of the Canis Major (greater Dog) constellation. NGC 2362 is a tight cluster of stars around a 4th magnitude blue supergiant named Tau. NGC 2362 forms the tail and hind quarters of the greater dog constellation.
2007-01-29 19:11:13 · answer #3 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. it is in the Ursa Major constellation
2007-01-29 13:55:56 · answer #4 · answered by amandac 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The brightest "fixed" star is Sirius, at magnitude -1.46.
Polaris, the North Star, is many times fainter, at magnitude 2.0.
2007-01-29 12:18:12 · answer #5 · answered by Keith P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The North Star.
2007-01-29 12:14:31 · answer #6 · answered by bandit 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Sirius, I'm serious. Polaris is dubious.
2007-01-29 12:19:29 · answer #7 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun
2007-01-29 12:22:12 · answer #8 · answered by dann_y2k 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
i do believe it is the North Star..
2007-01-29 12:13:30 · answer #9 · answered by mmh 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋