Arcturus vs Pollux
Roughly 3.0 times the light reaches the eye from Arcturus, magnitude −0.05 against +1.16. Catalogues list Arcturus as a K-type star and Pollux as a K-type star in Gemini. Both lie at a comparable distance from the Sun — 36.7 light-years for Arcturus and 33.8 for Pollux.
Property comparison
| Property | Arcturus | Pollux |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | 16Alp Boo | 78Bet Gem |
| Constellation | N/A | Gemini |
| Spectral Class | Class K — K-type (Orange) | Class K — K-type (Orange) |
| Apparent Magnitude | -0.05 | +1.16 |
| Absolute Magnitude | -0.31 | 1.08 |
| Distance | 36.7 ly | 33.8 ly |
| Mass | N/A | N/A |
| Radius | N/A | N/A |
| Temperature | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosity | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Arcturus · Pollux
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are K-type giant stars, but Arcturus is in the northern hemisphere's highlight and Pollux is in Gemini.
- ◆ Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern sky at magnitude −0.05; Pollux is the nearest giant star at ~34 ly.
- ◆ Pollux hosts a confirmed exoplanet (Thestias); Arcturus has no known planetary companions.
- ◆ Arcturus has an unusually high proper motion suggesting an unusual galactic orbit.
- ◆ Arcturus is about 170 times more luminous than the Sun; Pollux is about 33 times more luminous.