What is Beta Centauri?
Q: What is Beta Centauri?
A: Beta Centauri is a triple star system located in the southern constellation of Centaurus.
Q: How bright is Beta Centauri?
A: Beta Centauri has a combined apparent visual magnitude of 0.61, making it the second-brightest star in Centaurus and one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Q: What is the distance to the Beta Centauri system?
A: According to astrometric Hipparcos satellite measurements, the distance to the Beta Centauri system is about 390 ± 20 light-years (120 ± 6 parsecs).
Q: Why is Beta Centauri well-known in the Southern Hemisphere?
A: Beta Centauri is well-known in the Southern Hemisphere because a line made from Alpha Centauri through Beta Centauri leads to within a few degrees of Gacrux, the star at the top of the Southern Cross, and can be used by navigators to find South.
Q: Is Beta Centauri a single star or a multiple-star system?
A: Beta Centauri is a triple star system.
Q: What is another name for Beta Centauri?
A: Beta Centauri is also known as Agena or Hadar.
Q: What kind of constellation is Centaurus?
A: Centaurus is a southern constellation.
