Bellatrix vs Rigel
| Property | Bellatrix | Rigel |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | 24Gam Ori | 19Bet Ori |
| Constellation | Orion | Orion |
| Spectral Class | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) |
| Apparent Magnitude | +1.64 | +0.18 |
| Absolute Magnitude | -2.80 | -6.93 |
| Distance | 252 ly | 863 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 hot B-type stars in Orion, marking opposite corners of the hunter's torso.
- ◆ Rigel (Beta Orionis) is a blue supergiant at ~21 M☉; Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis) is a blue giant at ~8.4 M☉.
- ◆ Rigel is far more luminous at ~120,000 L☉ versus Bellatrix at ~6,400 L☉.
- ◆ Bellatrix is much closer at ~250 light-years; Rigel is also ~860 light-years distant.
- ◆ Bellatrix will eventually become an orange giant and finally a massive white dwarf, not a supernova.