Posted by ramel nortega

Navigational stars

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The navigational stars are used in celestial navigation because they are some of the brightest celestial objects due to their high luminosities and/or their proximity to our solar system. Most of these stars are a subset of the list of brightest stars and are defined by convention and nautical tradition.

Navigational stars

No.[3]	Common name	Magnitude	Bayer designation	SHA	Declination	Distance (ly)	Meaning of name[1]	SIMBAD entry
1	Alpheratz	2.06	α And	358	N 29°	97	the horse's navel	Alpheratz
2	Ankaa	2.37	α Phe	354	S 42°	77	coined name	Ankaa
3	Schedar	2.25	α Cas	350	N 56°	230	the breast (of Cassiopeia)	Schedar
4	Diphda	2.04	β Cet	349	S 18°	96	the second frog (Fomalhaut was once the first)	Deneb Kaitos
5	Achernar	0.50	α Eri	336	S 57°	140	end of the river (Eridanus)	Achernar
6	Hamal	2.00	α Ari	328	N 23°	66	full-grown lamb	Hamal
* [3]	Polaris	2.01 var[4]	α UMi	319	N 89°	430	the pole (star)	Polaris
7	Acamar	3.2	θ Eri	316	S 40°	120	another form of Achernar	Acamar
8	Menkar	2.5	α Cet	315	N 04°	220	nose (of the whale)	Menkar
9	Mirfak	1.82	α Per	309	N 50°	590	elbow of the Pleiades	Mirfak
10	Aldebaran	0.85 var[4]	α Tau	291	N 16°	65	follower (of the Pleiades)	Aldebaran
11	Rigel	0.12	β Ori	282	S 08°	770	foot (left foot of Orion)	Rigel
12	Capella	0.71	α Aur	281	N 46°	42	little she-goat	Capella A, Capella B
13	Bellatrix	1.64	γ Ori	279	N 06°	240	female warrior	Bellatrix
14	Elnath	1.68	β Tau	279	N 29°	130	one butting with the horns	Elnath
15	Alnilam	1.70	ε Ori	276	S 01°	1300	string of pearls	Alnilam
16	Betelgeuse	0.58 var[4]	α Ori	271	N 07°	430	the arm pit (of Orion)	Betelgeuse
17	Canopus	−0.72	α Car	264	S 53°	310	city of ancient Egypt	Canopus
18	Sirius	−1.47	α CMa	259	S 17°	8.6	the scorching one (popularly, the dog star)	Sirius
19	Adhara	1.51	ε CMa	256	S 29°	430	the virgin(s)	Adara
20	Procyon	0.34	α CMi	245	N 05°	11	before the dog (rising before the dog star, Sirius)	Procyon
21	Pollux	1.15	β Gem	244	N 28°	34	Zeus' other twin son (Castor, α Gem, is the first twin)	Pollux
22	Avior	2.4	ε1 Car	234	S 59°	630	coined name	Avior
23	Suhail	2.23	λ Vel	223	S 43°	570	shortened form of Al Suhail, one Arabic name for Canopus	Lambda Velorum
24	Miaplacidus	1.70	β Car	222	S 70°	110	quiet or still waters	Miaplacidus
25	Alphard	2.00	α Hya	218	S 09°	180	solitary star of the serpent	Alphard
26	Regulus	1.35	α Leo	208	N 12°	77	the prince	Regulus
27	Dubhe	1.87	α1 UMa	194	N 62°	120	the bear's back	Dubhe
28	Denebola	2.14	β Leo	183	N 15°	36	tail of the lion	Denebola
29	Gienah	2.80	γ Crv	176	S 17°	165	right wing of the raven	Gienah
30	Acrux	1.40	α1 Cru	174	S 63°	320	coined from Bayer name	Acrux A
31	Gacrux	1.63	γ Cru	172	S 57°	88	coined from Bayer name	Gacrux
32	Alioth	1.76	ε UMa	167	N 56°	81	another form of Capella	Alioth
33	Spica	1.04	α Vir	159	S 11°	260	the ear of corn	Spica
34	Alkaid	1.85	η UMa	153	N 49°	100	leader of the daughters of the bier	Alcaid
35	Hadar	0.60	β Cen	149	S 60°	530	leg of the centaur	Hadar
36	Menkent	2.06	θ Cen	149	S 36°	61	shoulder of the centaur	Menkent
37	Arcturus	−0.04 var[4]	α Boo	146	N 19°	37	the bear's guard	Arcturus
38	Rigil Kentaurus	−0.01	α1 Cen	140	S 61°	4.4	foot of the centaur	Alpha Centauri
39	Zubenelgenubi	3.28	α Lib	138	S 16°	77	southern claw (of the scorpion)	Alpha Librae
40	Kochab	2.08	β UMi	137	N 74°	130	shortened form of "north star" (named when it was that,[5] ca. 1500 BC - AD 300)	Kochab
41	Alphecca	2.24	α1 CrB	127	N 27°	75	feeble one (in the crown)	Alphecca
42	Antares	1.09	α Sco	113	S 26°	600	rival of Mars (in color)	Antares
43	Atria	1.92	α TrA	108	S 69°	420	coined from Bayer name	Atria
44	Sabik	2.43	η Oph	103	S 16°	84.1	second winner or conqueror	Sabik
45	Shaula	1.62	λ Sco	097	S 37°	700	cocked-up part of the scorpion's tail	Shaula
46	Rasalhague	2.10	α Oph	096	N 13°	47	head of the serpent charmer	Rasalhague
47	Eltanin	2.23	γ Dra	091	N 51°	150	head of the dragon	Eltanin
48	Kaus Australis	1.80	ε Sgr	084	S 34°	140	southern part of the bow (of Sagittarius)	Kaus Australis
49	Vega	0.03	α Lyr	081	N 39°	25	the falling eagle or vulture	Vega
50	Nunki	2.06	σ Sgr	076	S 26°	220	constellation of the holy city (Eridu)	Nunki
51	Altair	0.77	α Aql	063	N 09°	17	flying eagle or vulture	Altair
52	Peacock	1.91	α Pav	054	S 57°	180	coined from the English name of Pavo (constellation)	Peacock
53	Deneb	1.25	α Cyg	050	N 45°	3200	tail of the hen	Deneb
54	Enif	2.40	ε Peg	034	N 10°	670	nose of the horse	Enif
55	Al Na'ir	1.74	α Gru	028	S 47°	100	bright one (of the fish's tail)	Al Na'ir
56	Fomalhaut	1.16	α PsA	016	S 30°	25	mouth of the southern fish	Fomalhaut
57	Markab	2.49	α Peg	014	N 15°	140	saddle (of Pegasus)	Markab

[edit] Star charts

Star charts provide an aid to the navigator in locating the navigational stars among the constellations. It is useful to be able to identify stars by relative position - a star chart is helpful in locating these relationships.