giant · B2III
Bellatrix
Bellatrix is a blue giant (spectral type B2III) about 250 light-years away. With an apparent magnitude of 1.64 it is a very bright, conspicuous star.
A shoulder star of Orion. The Latin name means "female warrior".
Its light output is roughly 1,100 times that of the Sun (a rough estimate in visible light, calculated from brightness and distance).
From Germany (52° N) it rises and sets; it is best seen in the evening in December.
Key facts
- Distance
- ≈ 250 light-years
- Spectral type
- B2III (giant)
- Colour
- Blue
- Apparent magnitude
- 1.64 mag
- Luminosity
- ≈ 1,100 × Sun
- Position
- Right ascension 5h 25m, declination 6.4°
More well-known stars
Data: Hipparcos / HYG catalogue (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luminosity and visibility are calculated estimates.