Star Beta Centauri

The star Beta Centauri, also called "Hadar", is seen as the second brightest star in the constellation of Centaurus. It is 15,500 times brighter than the Sun, making it one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Facts about Beta Centauri

Beta Centauri is about 348.83 light-years away from the Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 0.6 mag. For a long time it was thought to be a single blue-white supergiant, but in 1935 it was revealed as a three-star system consisting of Beta Centauri A1, A2 and B. Beta Centauri A1 and A2 are giant stars, while Beta Centauri B is a B1-dwarf.

Visibility of Beta Centauri

Beta Centauri is located in its home constellation in the third quadrant of the Southern Hemisphere. Its striking brightness allows humans to view it with the naked eye from the southern hemisphere. It can also be observed from southern Texas and certain parts of Florida. It is best seen in early May and reaches its highest point in the sky in early June.