                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 June 11
    A grid of images of the 25 brightest stars on the night sky is shown.
     The grid is 5 x 5. Some stars look bluer or more orange than others
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                     25 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky
            Image Credit & Copyright: Tragoolchitr Jittasaiyapan

   Explanation: Do you know the names of some of the brightest stars? It's
   likely that you do, even though some bright stars have names so old
   they date back to near the beginning of written language. Many world
   cultures have their own names for the brightest stars, and it is
   culturally and historically important to remember them. In the interest
   of clear global communication, however, the International Astronomical
   Union (IAU) has begun to designate standardized star names. Featured
   here in true color are the 25 brightest stars in the night sky,
   currently as seen by humans, coupled with their IAU-recognized names.
   Some star names have interesting meanings, including Sirius ("the
   scorcher" in Latin), Vega ("falling" in Arabic), and Antares ("rival to
   Mars" in Greek). You are likely even familiar with the name of at least
   one star too dim to make this list: Polaris.

   APOD Turns 30!: Free public lecture in Anchorage TONIGHT (Wednesday) at
                                    7 pm
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                  NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices;
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

