File:Star-Alnitak.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Alnitak
Sign in to saveAlso known as Zeta Orionis, ζ Ori, ζ Orionis, 50 Orionis, 50 Ori, ADS 4263 AB, HGAM 467, HIC 26727
Alnitak is a triple star system in the constellation of Orion. It has the designations ζ Orionis, which is Latinised to Zeta Orionis and abbreviated Zeta Ori or ζ Ori, and 50 Orionis, abbreviated 50 Ori. The system is located at a distance of several hundred parsecs from the Sun and is one of the three main stars of Orion's Belt along with Alnilam and Mintaka.
Alnitak is a triple star system located in the constellation Orion, forming one of the three bright stars that make up Orion's Belt alongside Alnilam and Mintaka. It lies several hundred parsecs away from Earth and is notable as one of the most prominent and recognizable star systems visible in the night sky.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Astronomical data · SIMBAD
- Object type
- **
- Spectral type
- O9.7Ib+B0III
- Distance
- 736 light-years
- Redshift
- z = 0.0000617112617515847
- Coordinates
- RA 85.1897° · Dec -1.9426°
via SIMBAD · CDS Strasbourg
Wikidata facts
- Distance from Earth
- 1260
- Radius
- 20
- Image
- Alnitak sun comparison.svg
Show 12 more facts
- catalog code
- HD 37742J
- Commons category
- Alnitak
- apparent magnitude
- 1.77
- right ascension
- 85.189694428
- declination
- -1.942573586
- parallax
- 3.99
- radial velocity
- 18.50
- spectral class
- O9.5Ib
- luminosity
- 100000
- right ascension component of proper motion
- 3.99
- declination component of proper motion
- 2.54
- age estimated by a dating method
- 6.4
via Wikidata · CC0
~5 min read
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Observational history
- Stellar system
- Etymology and cultural significance
- Orion's Belt
- Namesakes
- References
- External links
Alnitak is a triple star system in the constellation of Orion. It has the designations ζ Orionis, which is Latinised to Zeta Orionis and abbreviated Zeta Ori or ζ Ori, and 50 Orionis, abbreviated 50 Ori. The system is located at a distance of several hundred parsecs from the Sun and is one of the three main stars of Orion's Belt along with Alnilam and Mintaka.
The primary star, Alnitak Aa, is a hot blue supergiant with an absolute magnitude of −6.0 and is the brightest class O star in the night sky with a visual magnitude of +2.0. It has two companions—Ab and B, the latter known for the longest time and the former discovered recently, producing a combined magnitude for the trio of +1.77. The stars are members of the Orion OB1 association and the association.