Astronomy Picture of the Day - 25 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky

NASA ^ | 11 Jun, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Tragoolchitr Jittasaiyapan

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: Do you know the names of some of the brightest stars? It's likely that you do, even though some bright stars have names so old they date back to near the beginning of written language. Many world cultures have their own names for the brightest stars, and it is culturally and historically important to remember them. In the interest of clear global communication, however, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has begun to designate standardized star names. Featured here in true color are the 25 brightest stars in the night sky, currently as seen by humans, coupled with their IAU-recognized names. Some star names have interesting meanings, including Sirius ("the scorcher" in Latin), Vega ("falling" in Arabic), and Antares ("rival to Mars" in Greek). You are likely even familiar with the name of at least one star too dim to make this list: Polaris.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[ComputerGuy]

Old Fomalhaut. I’d recognize him anywhere.

[wally_bert]

Thank you for the post.

I learned a little something.

Once in a while I try my hand at moon photography. A little success.

[telescope115]

A very colorful collection of stars. It’s too bad they’re scattered all over the sky, wouldn’t it be a sight if they were really that close together….

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Where’s ‘Felonious?’ Asking for a friend. ;)

That is a really nice list of big, beautiful stars.

Are any of these ‘stars’ actually SUNS for other Solar Systems?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I worked with a guy that was OBSESSED with taking pictures of the Moon. He eventually ended up having a crater named after him. ‘The Darling Crater.’ David Darling.

So, keep trying! :)

[MtnClimber]

They should be positioned to be in the shape of a cheeseburger and chips and Pepsi. NASA needs to do something about that.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I remember 'Antares' from Star Trek for some reason...

[wally_bert]

Thank you for good post.

At times I am not sure I want anything named for me.

My last name is too much trouble and I never liked anyway.

My amateur stuff with the P1000.

https://youtu.be/Hq1g_uwLboY?si=WFR7mc3GAY9RdzHE

https://youtu.be/M62Hu5uDTqI?si=VAmRlPnyM0zy1Z5P

Looking at similar YouTube fodder with the same model camera, the distortion seems to be a common problem.

I need a sturdy pan and tilt head of some kind to keep a solid track. It doesn’t have to be automated, manual control is just fine.

In an earlier life I was a studio camera jockey.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’ve always loved photography and have won a few Blue Ribbons at the County Fair in my dotage. ;)

I had a Pentax SLR back in the day. Took a LOT of great photos with that - back when we used FILM and had to WAIT a week for development, LOL!

I use a Canon SX530 HS these days. It take really good pictures - even of the the Moon.

Full Moon tonight; let’s get out there! :)

[wally_bert]

I had a couple of Canon SLRs when film was a thing.

People liked my stuff. A few wound up in a catalog for some school in the 90s.

Video is where I have done way better than still photography.

[mistfree]

Interesting, I went to grade school with a “David Darling”
...I wonder.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m pretty sure he’s always lived in Wisconsin. I might be wrong.

[ETCM]

If you include small planets and planetoids, probably all stars have a “solar system” of planets and other debris from their formation. Various estimates between half and 3/4 for stars with large planets.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

So, Earth is still special by comparison? This stuff is so hard to wrap your brain around! I WANT us to be, ‘the only ones’ with carbon-based Life and a History going back eons.

But, I’m not averse to inter-stellar company. ;)

[null and void]

[mfish13]

Not Old Frothingschloss??

[ETCM]

There may have been many forms of sentient life. Possibly on thousands of planets. But time is so huge, who knows how many might exist at the same time? Our sun is 4.6 billion years old, and we have existed for a blink of an eye in that time. And the sun is thought to be a third generation star. Thousands of civilizations could have risen and fell before our solar system even existed. Between the vastness of time and space, I doubt we will ever meet our neighbors.