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Gemini constellation

Gemini is a zodiac constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Pollux. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Winterbest seen
  • Polluxbrightest star, magnitude 1.2
  • GemGemini
Show on the sky map
The constellation Gemini in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Pollux, Gemini — magnitude 1.2. Open on the sky mapPolluxCastor, Gemini — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapCastorAlhena, Gemini — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapAlhenaTejat, Gemini — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapTejatMebsuta, Gemini — magnitude 3.1. Open on the sky mapMebsutaPropus, Gemini — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapAlzirr, Gemini — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapWasat, Gemini — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapκ Geminorum — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapλ Geminorum — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapθ Geminorum — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapι Geminorum — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapMekbuda, Gemini — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapυ Geminorum — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapNucatai, Gemini — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky map1 Geminorum — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapρ Geminorum — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapσ Geminorum — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapτ Geminorum — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map30 Geminorum — magnitude 4.5. 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 Gemini

Two bright stars side by side, Castor and Pollux, are the heads of the Twins. Look for them northeast of Orion: the line from Rigel through Betelgeuse points at them.

Best seen in winter: in February around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 61°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Polluxβ Geminorum 1.2orangeabout 34 light years
Castorα Geminorum 1.6bluish whiteabout 51 light years
Alhenaγ Geminorum 1.9bluish white—
Tejatμ Geminorum 2.9red—
Mebsutaε Geminorum 3.1orange—
Propusη Geminorum 3.3red—
Alzirrξ Geminorum 3.4white—
Wasatδ Geminorum 3.5white—
κ Geminorum 3.6orange—
λ Geminorum 3.6bluish white—
θ Geminorum 3.6bluish white—
ι Geminorum 3.8orange—

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 Gemini in the sky?

Two bright stars side by side, Castor and Pollux, are the heads of the Twins. Look for them northeast of Orion: the line from Rigel through Betelgeuse points at them.

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

In winter: in February 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 Gemini?

Pollux: magnitude 1.2, orange. Distance: about 34 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Gemini?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 73 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.

Winter constellations

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