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Centaurus constellation

Centaurus is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Rigil Kentaurus. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.

  • Springbest seen
  • Rigil Kentaurusbrightest star, magnitude −0.0
  • CenCentaurus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Centaurus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Rigil Kentaurus, Centaurus — magnitude −0.0. Open on the sky mapRigil KentaurusHadar, Centaurus — magnitude 0.6. Open on the sky mapHadarAcrux, Crux — magnitude 0.8. Open on the sky mapMimosa, Crux — magnitude 1.3. Open on the sky mapToliman, Centaurus — magnitude 1.4. Open on the sky mapTolimanGacrux, Crux — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapMenkent, Centaurus — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapMenkentMuhlifain, Centaurus — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapMuhlifainε Centauri — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapα Lupi — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapη Centauri — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapAlnair, Centaurus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapδ Centauri — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapβ Lupi — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapι Centauri — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapImai, Crux — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapκ Centauri — magnitude 3.1. Open on the sky mapν Centauri — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapμ Centauri — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapφ Centauri — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapτ Centauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapυ¹ Centauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapπ Centauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapd Centauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapσ Centauri — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapρ Centauri — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapb Centauri — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapψ Centauri — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapc¹ Centauri — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapHIP 57439, Centaurus — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapg Centauri — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapn Centauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapξ² Centauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapv Centauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mape Centauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapυ² Centauri — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapχ Centauri — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapBidelman's Helium Variable Star, Centaurus — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapHIP 59173, Centaurus — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapB Centauri — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapJ Centauri — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapm Centauri — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapHIP 64425, Centaurus — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Centaurus

Use its brightest star as a guide: Rigil Kentaurus (magnitude −0.0). In May around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgnot visible — too far south in the sky

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Rigil Kentaurusα¹ Centauri −0.0yellow—
Hadarβ Centauri 0.6blue—
Tolimanα² Centauri 1.4orange—
Menkentθ Centauri 2.1orange—
Muhlifainγ Centauri 2.2bluish white—
ε Centauri 2.3blue—
η Centauri 2.3blue—
Alnairζ Centauri 2.5blue—
δ Centauri 2.6blue—
ι Centauri 2.8bluish white—
λ Centauri 3.1bluish white—
κ Centauri 3.1blue—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Centaurus in the sky?

Use its brightest star as a guide: Rigil Kentaurus (magnitude −0.0). In May around 22:00 its northern part rises above the southern horizon. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Centaurus?

In spring: in May around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus?

Rigil Kentaurus: magnitude −0.0, yellow.

How many stars are there in the constellation Centaurus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 174 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Spring constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Centaurus is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map