Antarès vs Bételgeuse
Sky brightness gives Bételgeuse a 0.61-magnitude edge, +0.45 to +1.06. Both lie at a comparable distance from the Sun — 554 light-years for Antarès and 498 for Bételgeuse. Spectroscopically Antarès resolves as an M-type star in Scorpius and Bételgeuse as an M-type star in Orion. Corrected for distance, Bételgeuse outproduces Antarès by some 1.4 times, absolute magnitudes −5.47 and −5.09.
Property comparison
| Property | Antarès | Bételgeuse |
|---|---|---|
| Désignation | 21Alp Sco | 58Alp Ori |
| Constellation | Scorpius | Orion |
| Classe Spectrale | Class M — M-type (Red) | Class M — M-type (Red) |
| Magnitude Apparente | +1.06 | +0.45 |
| Magnitude Absolue | -5.09 | -5.47 |
| Distance | 554 ly | 498 ly |
| Masse | N/A | N/A |
| Rayon | N/A | N/A |
| Température | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosité | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Antarès · Bételgeuse
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are famous red supergiants and iconic supernova candidates visible to the naked eye.
- ◆ Betelgeuse is significantly larger at ~887 R☉; Antares has a radius of ~680 R☉.
- ◆ Antares is in Scorpius and has long been compared to Mars due to its red colour; Betelgeuse marks Orion's shoulder.
- ◆ Antares is about 604 light-years away; Betelgeuse is approximately 700 light-years distant.
- ◆ Both show irregular variability and dramatic mass-loss through powerful stellar winds.