Star
Arcturus
The orange giant of spring.
Visible tonight?
Up now · alt 3° E
- Rises
- 04:31
- Transit
- 11:34
- Sets
- 18:33
Fourth-brightest star in the night sky; a red giant nearing the end of its life.
Finding it
Follow the arc of the Big Dipper's handle: 'arc to Arcturus, speed on to Spica'.
See also
Betelgeuse
A doomed red supergiant in Orion.
Yellow Giant
An intermediate giant of spectral class G or F.
Carbon Star
A cool red giant with carbon-rich atmosphere.
S-type Star
A giant star intermediate between M and carbon stars.
Barium Star
A giant enriched by a long-dead companion.
Mira Variable
A red giant with huge slow brightness swings.