Astronomy: Stars

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. A Dictionary of Astronomy Further reading

Rigel

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Rigel , bright star in the constellation Orion ; Bayer designation Beta Orionis; 1992 position R.A. 5 ^h 14.2 ^m , Dec. -8°13′. A huge, blue supergiant of spectral class B8 Ia, Rigel has an intrinsic brightness about 40,000 times as luminous as that of the sun. It is an irregular variable star , with apparent magnitude ranging from 0.08 to 0.20, making it normally the seventh-brightest star in the sky. Its distance from the earth is nearly 1,000 light-years. Rigel is actually a four-star system consisting of a visual binary star , each component of which is itself a spectroscopic binary. Its name is from the Arabic word meaning "foot," indicating its position in the constellation.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Rigel." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Rigel." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Rigel.html

"Rigel." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Rigel.html

Learn more about citation styles

Rigel

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

Rigel The star Beta Orionis, magnitude 0.18, the seventh-brightest star in the sky. It is a B8 supergiant 773 l.y. away and has a luminosity 40 000 times the Sun's. It has a companion of magnitude 6.8, which is itself a spectroscopic binary.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Rigel." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Rigel." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Rigel.html

"Rigel." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Rigel.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Rigel granted patents in immunology, virology and oncology. Newspaper article from: BIOTECH Patent News; 2/1/2006
	Rigel instruments--: pushing the envelope of mandolin design. (Product News). Magazine article from: Music Trades; 4/1/2002
	Rigel announces issuance of Hepatitis C virus and inflammation patents.(Rigel... Newspaper article from: BIOTECH Patent News; 2/1/2004