Facts about Antares

1. 08

   Every 2,600 years, Antares's brightness dimmed noticeably during 2021 when its companion star B passed directly in front of it from Earth's perspective, causing a temporary eclipse.

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2. 07

   Antares's mass remains uncertain but estimates place it between 16 and 19 times the Sun's mass, making precise calculations difficult due to its binary companion's gravitational influence.

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3. 06

   Within the Scorpius constellation, Antares marks the scorpion's heart and derives its name from the Greek phrase meaning "rival of Mars" due to its similar reddish color and brightness.

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4. 05

   Approximately 700 times more luminous than our Sun, Antares will eventually explode as a supernova within the next few million years.

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5. 04

   Antares emits most of its radiation in the infrared spectrum due to its cool surface temperature of approximately 3,500 Kelvin, much cooler than our Sun's 5,778 Kelvin.

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6. 03

   Located approximately 550 light-years from Earth, Antares ranks as the 15th brightest star visible in our night sky despite its enormous distance.

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7. 02

   Antares orbits with its blue companion star B in a binary system with an estimated orbital period of 900 years.

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8. 01

   Red supergiant Antares has a radius approximately 883 times larger than our Sun, making it one of the largest known stars.

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