Capella vs Pollux

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

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.

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