What Is Rigel And Why Is It So Bright?

Rigel is the brightest star in its constellation Orion, along with Betelgeuse and 81 other stars!
We all got super excited a few years ago when Betelgeuse was speculated to die and explode into a supernova. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and the star was just “sneezing”. Bless you Betelgeuse, thank you for the false alarm. We understand, you’re a really really cold star. But enough about you, we are curious to meet your incredibly bright blue neighbor, Rigel.
Let’s take a look on why Rigel is so bright, and why some people swear they’ve seen it dimmer than usual. Those people aren’t wrong, Rigel does change brightness!
But before you start watching this video, let me know in the comments whether you have ever been able to spot Orion on your own or not. Well, for those of you who weren’t able to, take an imaginary pen and draw this little picture in your mind: three consecutive vertical dots and two dots symmetrical along the axis of the dots you just drew. Those are the Orion’s brightest stars that you can distinguish if you pay attention at the night sky. Orion is mostly visible in winter, so take a look tonight and see if you can spot it. It will be easy to find, since it's the most recognizable constellation during the night. The bright blue-ish star that you see on the left side of the constellation is the famous Rigel, opposing the supergiant red star Betelgeuse that is on the right side of Orion. Take a few moments to appreciate the vastness and beauty of the night sky and Orion's bright stars. And if you feel like a bit of adventure, why not try to look for some of the other constellations like the Big Dipper and the Pleiades (better known as the Seven Sisters)? Who knows, you may even find a shooting star or two!
But this video is about Rigel, so let’s not waste so much time and get into it!

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Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO/ Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:02 Where is Rigel Located
05:01 Rigel luminosity
07:18 Why are Betelguese and Rigel such opposite in color?
09:38 Ancient cultural and mythological significance

#insanecuriosity #rigel #stars

[InsaneCuriosity]

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[lotusthewaterlily]

I love Rigel, it’s always been my favorite star. In the night sky, when I see it I can stare at it forever.

[Asljie]

Rigel is my all time favorite star it makes me so happy to know that other people out there are watching it and are thinking the same thing

[mm-dwrr]

Rigel is so very majestic. A truly beautiful star in every way.

[JoyKazuhira]

My favorite star in the night sky.

I wonder if someone out there sees our sun as a part of their own viewable constellation and what they think the sun has in its system.

[msp]

RIP to my Uncle Rigel. I feel your light upon me everyday since your passing.

[margietatoy]

I love Rigel star, that is why I named my son Rigel because he lights up my world. 🤗

[kevanhubbard]

I spotted Rigel tonight in the dusk while I was on the beach but then some clouds rolled in.Very easy to spot Orion and it's still mid sky in March but we'll lose it soon in the northern hemisphere as the daylight extends.

[armandoperez]

Rigel is so huge that if it replaced Alpha Centauri, it would be, even at 4.3 light years away, 10 times brighter than the full moon. And if it would become a supernova at that distance we’d be toast.

[sdarmsdoug]

That was a well done video... really enjoyed it! Thanks for posting it!

[chrism]

Sirius is brighter in the sky because it is much closer to us. At only 8.6 light years. Rigil is a much brighter star and if it was 8.6 light years away, it would be incredibly bright in the night sky.

[timothyvanhoeck]

Stars like Rigel also tend to output most of their radiation in the Ultraviolet end of the spectrum, and their stellar winds are so powerful that by the time they go supernova, they will have lost almost half their original mass in the process.

[umfilhodedeustotalmenteama]

I love Rigel! I can see it clearly here in Brasil!

[glennnile]

Imagine all the places we have to explore. Unimaginable and beyond exciting.

[shawnhorkheimer]

So glad, a star, other than Betlegeuse... I look at Orion stars EVERY NIGHT !... Would love to see the Nebula, BETLEGEUSE would make !... I'm still trying to learn which is Mintaka, Alnitak, and Alnilam...- And Bellatrix !.

[francoisjohannson]

More videos about constellations and their stars please

[spacefan]

I saw the 3 belt stars and all of the Orion constellation

[thomasfarr]

I have telescopes. I have studied the Great Orion Nebula. Orion is the awesome Winter constellation!

[jssomewhere]

Not that I want to lose any of the giant well known stars and need to refigure and rename the constellations but it would be incredible to get to see one of the big fairly close monsters blow. That scene must be amazing. The last was the crab nebulae the star that made it blew a 1000 or so years ago. And was for a few days visible during the day. Chances are very low to have that happen during any single lifetime but there are several that are ready and close enough while being far enough to put on a show while not stripping all life off the planet at least our planet.

[tauceti]

Wait, so you, re saying this star is much younger than the time since the extinction of the dinosaures, as a matter of fact their are fossils much older than Rigel on earth