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It is common for astronomers to identify stars in a constellation with Greek alphabets. This is called the "Bayer designations". Bayer, a German astronomer, designated the stars in a constellation according to brightness, but this is not always the case. Here, Betelgeuse is not as bright as Rigel but it is called Alpha Orionis, rather than Beta Orionis. One reason for this is because 400 years ago, nobody could accurately determine which star was brighter, and it probably seemed that Betelgeuse was the brighter star.

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Is the star Betelegeuse in the Milky Way?

Betelgeuse, also known as Alpha Orionis, is in the Milky Way. It is the brightest star in the constellation Orion.


What constellation has 2 of the brightest stars in the sky?

Generally, stars are named with a Greek letter designating the relative brightness followed by the name of the constellation. "Alpha" and "Beta" are (generally) the two brightest stars. So the brightest star in the constellation Scorpio is "Alpha Scorpius". Most bright stars also have Arabic names; Alpha Scorpius is better known as Antares. This pattern doesn't ALWAYS hold; for example, the red giant star Betelgeuse is Alpha Orionis, while Rigel is Beta Orionis. But Rigel is brighter than Betelgeuse! The answer is that Betelgeuse is a somewhat-variable star, and when the stars were formally catalogued, was brighter than Rigel. Betelgeuse has since dimmed a little, and is now less bright that Rigel. Some astronomers use Betelgeuse's variability as a sign that it is nearing the end of its life, and will "soon" explode as a supernova. Of course, "soon" to an astronomer means "within the next 10,000 years or so".


How long does it take Rigel and beta orian to orbit each other?

Rigel is beta Orion so I am not sure what the question is about.


What is another name for Rigel?

To the Maori, it is known as Puanga.


Where is the Beedle Juice star?

Betelgeuse is in the constellation of Orion, and is otherwise known as alpha Orionis. It is on the left "shoulder" of the Orion hunter, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.


Which star is brighter Betelgeuse or Rigel?

Rigel is brighter than Betelgeuse. Rigel is a blue supergiant star and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, while Betelgeuse is a red supergiant and although it is one of the largest stars known, it is not as bright as Rigel.


What constellation contains the star called Betelgeuse?

Betelgeuse, or Alpha Orionis, is a red supergiant and second brightest star in the constellation Orion.


What is betelgouse?

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the largest and brightest stars visible to the naked eye from Earth. Betelgeuse is known for its variable brightness and is expected to eventually explode in a supernova.


What is true of alpha star in a constellation?

The standard designations of stars within a constellation is a Greek letter followed by the Latin name of the constellation. This is called the "Bayer designation". In general - but not in EVERY case - the stars were lettered in order by brightness. Please remember that this was done a few hundred years ago, before the invention of detailed electronic instruments. And over the centuries, in a few cases the stars themselves have varied in brightness. For example, in the constellation of Orion, the star Betelgeuse is "Alpha Orionis", even though it is the SECOND-brightest star in Orion. Why the discrepancy? A couple of reasons, perhaps. Rigel, the brightest star in Orion, isn't all THAT much brighter; both are "first magnitude" stars. Second, Betelgeuse is known to be a variable star, and 300 years ago we believe that Betelgeuse was actually brighter than Rigel is.


What are Betelgeuse and Rigel?

Betelgeuse and Rigel are the two brightest stars in the constellation of Orion. They are very easy to spot, with Betelgeuse being at the top left and Rigel at the bottom right. Comparing the two it is also easy to notice the difference in colour as Betelgeuse is a red supergiant and looks reddish in colour, very different to Rigel.


Rigel and Betelgeuse are stars of what constellation?

Rigel and Betelgeuse are stars in the constellation Orion. Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky, known for its prominent belt of three stars. Rigel is located at the hunter's foot, while Betelgeuse represents one of his shoulders.


Which was discovered first Betelgeuse or Rigel?

Betelgeuse and Rigel are both in the top 10 brightest stars in the sky. They have been seen bright in the sky even since cavemen looked up. So, they were discovered about the same time.