The Rambling Astronomer

This is the start of a simple guide to the brightest 20 stars in the night sky

The brightest star in the night sky, this is Sirius also known as the Dog Star as it is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major the Greater Dog

The second brightest star in the sky, although today in the constellation of Carina the Keel orginally part of the ancinet constellation of Argo Navis. Sadly it cannot be seen from Britain

The third brightest star in the sky, alpha centauri is a system of three stars, one which is known as proxima is apart from the Sun the nearest star to us.

Located in the constellation of Bootes Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere with a wonderful story.

One of the stars that forms the summer triangle, Vega can be seen directly overhead during summer evenings.

The star that is overhead during winter evenings, although it appears single there are in fact four stars in this system.

One of the four stars that form the great rectangle of Orion, Rigel can be found in the bottom right hand corner. It is the brightest star in this wonderful constellation.

The small dog star, Procyon is often overlooked in the winter sky by the brighter and better knwon Sirius the large dog star.

One of many bright stars that cannot be seen from Britain, Achernar is the part of the long sprawling constellation of Eridanus the River that is far to the south of us.