Star Facts is an astronomy reference site dedicated to the brightest, nearest, and other notable stars visible in the night sky. Started in autumn 2019 by an amateur astronomer primarily for personal reference, it has grown into a comprehensive stellar reference resource, covering more than 300 individual stars in depth. The website is accessible to readers at every level, from beginners trying to make sense of the night sky to experienced amateur astronomers looking for reliable reference data.
What the site covers
Each star entry goes beyond basic facts to provide a fuller picture of the star’s physical characteristics, its place in its host constellation, how to locate it in the night sky, any nearby deep sky objects, and where relevant, the star’s significance across different cultures. The site also covers stellar classification and stellar evolution, the life cycles of stars from formation through to their final stages as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes, attempting to make these topics accessible to readers without a formal astrophysics background. The section about star names is kept up to date with the IAU-Catalog of Star Names.
Sources and accuracy
Star data is drawn from authoritative catalogues including SIMBAD and the Hipparcos and Gaia astrometric catalogues, which provide precise measurements of stellar distances, proper motions, and physical characteristics. Where catalogue data differs between sources or has been revised by more recent measurements, the most current verified figures are used whenever possible. Pages are reviewed and updated as new data becomes available.
About the author
Star Facts is written and maintained by an amateur astronomer and the creator of Constellation Guide and Messier Objects, who has a particular interest in stellar characteristics and the broader context of stars within their constellations.
Part of a wider network
Star Facts is one of three complementary astronomy reference sites maintained by the same author. Constellation Guide covers all 88 IAU constellations in depth, while Messier Objects is dedicated to the 110 objects in Charles Messier’s catalogue of bright deep sky objects visible in small telescopes. The three sites are heavily cross-referenced, making them more useful together than any one site alone.
Have a correction, suggestion, or question about a star? Use the Contact page to get in touch.