Арктур vs Поллукс

Roughly 3.0 times the light reaches the eye from Арктур, magnitude −0.05 against +1.16. Catalogues list Арктур as a K-type star and Поллукс as a K-type star in Gemini. Both lie at a comparable distance from the Sun — 36.7 light-years for Арктур and 33.8 for Поллукс.

Property comparison

Property Арктур Поллукс
Обозначение 16Alp Boo 78Bet Gem
Созвездие N/A Gemini
Спектральный класс Class K — K-type (Orange) Class K — K-type (Orange)
Видимая звёздная величина -0.05 +1.16
Абсолютная звёздная величина -0.31 1.08
Расстояние 36.7 ly 33.8 ly
Масса N/A N/A
Радиус N/A N/A
Температура N/A N/A
Светимость N/A N/A

Full data for each star: Арктур · Поллукс

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.
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