Capella vs Pollux
Apparent brightness is what most separates them: +0.08 against +1.16, a gap of 1.08 magnitudes. Catalogues list Capella as an M-type star and Pollux as a K-type star in Gemini. Only 33.8 light-years separate the Sun from Pollux; Capella sits 1.3 times further out at 42.8. Absolute magnitudes of −0.51 for Capella and +1.08 for Pollux put a factor near 4.3 between their true outputs.
Property comparison
| Property | Capella | Pollux |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | 13Alp Aur | 78Bet Gem |
| Constellation | N/A | Gemini |
| Spectral Class | Class M — M-type (Red) | Class K — K-type (Orange) |
| Apparent Magnitude | +0.08 | +1.16 |
| Absolute Magnitude | -0.51 | 1.08 |
| Distance | 42.8 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: Capella · Pollux
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are among the nearest and brightest giant stars to the Sun.
- ◆ Capella is the sixth-brightest star and is actually a quadruple system with two G-type giants as the primary pair.
- ◆ Pollux is the single nearest giant star, hosting a confirmed exoplanet.
- ◆ Capella is at ~43 light-years; Pollux is closer at ~34 light-years.
- ◆ The primary pair of Capella orbits each other every 104 days and are not resolvable by eye.