Star profile

Mintaka

Delta Orionis · Orion

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class O · ~30,000 K

What is Mintaka

Mintaka is the westernmost star of Orion's Belt, aligned with its two sisters in an almost perfect line above the winter horizon. It belongs to the rare O spectral class, among the hottest and most massive stars known, and is also variable. The light we see tonight set out nearly 700 years ago, when the first faint echoes of the Renaissance were just beginning to reach Europe.

Where it is and when to see it

Mintaka lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is December, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 38° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 49° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 56° above the horizon.

It sits almost on the celestial equator, so it can be seen from nearly the whole planet.

It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 128 stars of Orion in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rigel, the brightest: it lies about 9° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 690 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Mintaka

Constellation: Orion
Apparent magnitude: 2.25
Distance: 692.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 83.002° · Dec -0.299°
Catalogue: HIP 25930 · HD 36486

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Other stars in Orion

Orion has 128 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 128 stars in Orion