Alnitak vs Mintaka
| Property |
Alnitak
|
Mintaka
|
| Designation |
50Zet Ori |
34Del Ori |
| Constellation |
Orion |
Orion |
| Spectral Class |
Class O — O-type (Blue) |
Class O — O-type (Blue) |
| Apparent Magnitude |
+1.74 |
+2.25 |
| Absolute Magnitude |
-5.03
|
-4.38
|
| Distance |
736 ly |
692 ly |
| Mass |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Radius |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Temperature |
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Luminosity |
N/A
|
N/A
|
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are O-type stars in Orion's Belt, but Alnitak is the eastern star and Mintaka the western.
- ◆ Alnitak is the brightest O-type star in the night sky; Mintaka lies almost exactly on the celestial equator.
- ◆ Alnitak is near the Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula which it illuminates with its intense UV radiation.
- ◆ Both are multiple star systems containing O-type primaries.
- ◆ Alnitak is somewhat more massive and more distant than Mintaka.