(Almost) The Brightest Star

Let's go giant hunting! Follow the arc of the Big Dipper, and you'll see another Arc(turus) that has the honor of being the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. Find out more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

What is Astro Minute?

Welcome to the Astro Minute! I'm Lauren Smyth, and with the help of astronomer and teacher Kelli Smyth, I'll be your tour guide as we explore the secrets of the night sky sixty seconds at a time.

Welcome to the Astro Minute, where we’re exploring the universe sixty seconds at a time. I’m Lauren Smyth, and today we’re going giant hunting.

What’s the second brightest star in the northern hemisphere? If you guessed Arcturus, you’re right! Recognized by its brightness and reddish color, and popularized by books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Arcturus is a red giant measuring twenty-five suns across and emitting two hundred fifteen times the sun’s energy. It’s an old star, and will eventually become a planetary nebula. It’s about thirty-seven light years from earth, which means the light we see from it today left Arcturus thirty-seven years ago. Interestingly, the light from Arcturus was used to switch on the opening lights at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.

If you follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper across the sky, you will land on this magnificent red giant.

That’s your Astro Minute!