Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Centaurus (Cen)  ·  Contains:  Hadar (βCen)  ·  NGC 5316  ·  NGC 5381  ·  NGC 5617  ·  Part of the constellation Centaurus (Cen)  ·  The star Agena  ·  The star α1Cen  ·  The star α2Cen
Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars, Ray Caro
Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars
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Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars

Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars, Ray Caro
Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars
Powered byPixInsight

Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars

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Description

On the celestial vault of the Southern Hemisphere, it is impossible not to notice these two very bright stars located side by side and pointing to the asterism of the Southern Cross.

These are Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Centauri) and Hadar (Beta Centauri).

In Arabic, Rigil Kentaurus means "Foot of the Centaur". It is a three-star system probably accompanied by three planets. Alpha Centauri is the nearest bright star to the sun, at a distance of about 4.39 light-years. It is also the fourth brightest star in our sky.

Hadar (Beta Centauri) is also a three-star system, about 400 light-years away. It is the second brightest star in the constellation Centaurus and is the eleventh brightest star in our sky.

Focal lenght : 200mm

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Alpha & Beta Centauri : The Southern Pointer Stars, Ray Caro

In these collections

Centaurus / Centaure