Beta Centauri (β Cen / β Centauri), also known as Hadar or Agena, is the second brightest star in the constellationCentaurus and the eleventh brightest star in the nighttime sky. Orion is a remarkable constellation, visible from most places on the globe (but not always the whole year long). ... Centaurus (Latin for centaur) was one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, and counts also among the 88 modern constellations. ... By apparent magnitude Below the 100 Brightest stars as seen from Earth (by apparent magnitude at visible wavelengths) according to the Hipparcos sky survey. ...
Beta Centauri is a blue-white giant star that is approximately 525 light-years from the Solar system. A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... Mosaic of the planets of the solar system, excluding Pluto, and including Earths Moon. ...
The name hadar comes from the Arabic word for "ground", while the name agena comes from Latin words for "the knee". Arabic (العربية) is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Latin is the language that was originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...
The name hadar comes from the Arabic word for "ground", while the name agena comes from Latin words for "the knee".
Hadar is also useful as a guide star, making an imaginary line with Rigil Kentaurus that passes within a few degrees of Gacrux, in the constellation Crux.