Rigel size and scale context

Rigel is the blue-white supergiant that marks Orion’s foot and dominates the constellation’s lower half. Although it looks solitary to the eye, it is actually part of a multiple-star system built around a spectacularly luminous hot primary star. Read its scale context, comparisons, and journey links on the canonical object page.

PolluxOrange giant star·12.5 million km
ArcturusK-type giant star·35 million km
AldebaranRed giant branch star·62.8 million km
RigelBlue supergiant star·103 million km
DenebA-type supergiant star·280 million km

Scroll up for smaller

Scroll down for larger