Here's a glimpse into Rigel's fiery world:
- A Stellar Heavyweight: Rigel boasts a mass 21 times that of our Sun and a radius a staggering 78 times larger. This immense size places it among the heavyweight stars in the galaxy.
- Brilliant and Blazing Hot: Burning at a surface temperature of roughly 11,000 Kelvin, Rigel is a scorching blue-white giant. This extreme temperature makes it around 120,000 times more luminous than our Sun.
- A Farewell Glow: Rigel is a young star by cosmic standards, at around 10 million years old. However, its immense size means it burns through its fuel rapidly. Astronomers predict it will someday end in a spectacular supernova explosion.
- Not So Single After All: While appearing as a single point of light to the naked eye, Rigel is actually a multi-star system. It has at least four stellar companions, including a binary star system orbiting Rigel itself.
Finding Rigel in the Night Sky:
During winter months in the Northern Hemisphere and summer months in the Southern Hemisphere, stargazers can easily locate Rigel. Look for Orion, a prominent constellation with three bright stars forming his belt. Rigel shines brightly as the blue-white star marking Orion's left knee.
Rigel's brilliance and fascinating story as a massive star nearing the end of its life cycle make it a captivating sight in our night sky.