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Brightest Natural Objects in the Sky

Can you name the brightest natural objects in the sky, as viewed from Earth?
Source: Wikipedia
Based on MAXIMUM visual magnitude
Does NOT include human-made objects
Does NOT include comets, periodic or ortherwise
Quiz by
scambigol
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Last updated: February 7, 2026
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First submittedJuly 20, 2014
Times taken28,060
Average score36.4%
Rating4.45
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V Mag
Object
-26.78
Sun
-12.90
Moon
-4.92
Venus
-2.94
Jupiter
-2.94
Mars
-2.48
Mercury
-1.46
Sirius
-0.74
Canopus
-0.55
Saturn
-0.29
Alpha Centauri
-0.05
Arcturus
-0.02
Vega
0.00
Betelgeuse
0.03
Capella
0.05
Rigel
0.13
Large Magellanic Cloud
0.37
Procyon
0.40
Achernar
0.61
Beta Centauri
0.75
Aldebaran
0.77
Altair
0.79
Alpha Crucis
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56 Comments
cuotak
+6
Level 70
Jul 23, 2014
International Space Station?
scambigol
+6
Level 80
Jul 23, 2014
Thanks! I was thinking that maybe I was missing something but I didn't find a proper list.

I've added it at -4 as that's what it says http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station

although it can reach -5.9 according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_magnitude

Quizmaster
+5
Level ∞
Feb 7, 2026
We removed that one and restricted the list to natural objects.

There are other human made objects that would make the list, including SpaceX satellites when they are first launched, but also including the Chinese space station and probably more too.

OohAngelo
+1
Level 50
Apr 21, 2026
Must be natural. The ISS is man-made
TheNewPotato
+4
Level 48
Feb 17, 2016
I am from Beeeeeeeeetlejuice 4!!! (Ford Prefect)
mahble
+1
Level 79
Aug 5, 2017
Why not call yourself Zogg?
AlexThirkell
+1
Level 74
Jun 26, 2021
Ford and Zaphod were both from Betelgeuse Five!
Stanke
+3
Level 31
Jul 22, 2016
I thought that there are only included stars. I feel like a fool now.
Djilas
+1
Level 86
Aug 22, 2017
I typed moon, but totally forgot to continue with others ...
ketchupkawawa
+1
Level 50
Jul 18, 2017
Iridium satellite flares? (Just kidding)
jaketk33
+1
Level 57
Aug 30, 2017
I mean that is a valid point. if the ISS is included, why shouldn't Iridium Flares? They can be as bright as mag -7
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Feb 7, 2026
Yes, valid point. We've removed all human objects.

Although Iridium flares are no longer a thing as the last Iridium satellites have been deorbited.

lucd13
+1
Level 70
Aug 21, 2017
I felt so stupid getting only 12, but then I saw the average is 9 and I feel better. I like hard quizzes like this.
mahble
+1
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
Hard? I got 20 on my first try.
CardinalV
+15
Level 65
Jun 3, 2019
Still hard, even if your limitless intellect tells you otherwise.
Ampersandwich
+1
Level 61
Apr 17, 2026
Do everyone a favor and shut up please
DonTheLamplighter
+7
Level 87
Aug 21, 2017
Hard for mere mortals. I got 13. It was difficult for me too. I hope I can be as smart as mahble when I grow up.
catlover2496
+1
Level 43
Aug 21, 2017
Nice quiz!
philsa2
+1
Level 56
Aug 21, 2017
cool!
kalbahamut
+3
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
I used to know well the names of Vega, Arcturus, Procyon, etc... some of them featured in fan-fiction authored by myself or my girlfriend in high school. We were both sci-fi geeks. And I studied Astronomy once a long time ago. Now, 20 years later, I only could remember 3 stars, but I got all the other objects.
mahble
+2
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
ASTRONOMY NERDS FOR THE WINNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!
kalbahamut
+5
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
Are Halley's and other comets not brighter than some of these stars? Do these objects have to be visible from Earth at all times? I would think not since it is based on maximal brightness not averages. Though... then you open up the possibility of objects entering the atmosphere. I bet the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was pretty damn bright for at least a short while.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
Nevermind. I looked it up and apparently Halley's Comet only has an apparent magnitude of 28
mahble
+1
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
Right now it does - when it gets to the inner solar system its magnitude is lower than 6, making it a great comet. The brightest comets ever, though, have gotten all the way to -10 (Comet Ikeya-Seki).
mahble
+1
Level 79
Aug 21, 2017
And Halley's comet can get at least to -2.
kalbahamut
+4
Level 79
Aug 22, 2017
Then why isn't it on the quiz since it says it's according to maximal brightness?
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Feb 7, 2026
Added a caveat
Xtrordinary
+1
Level 75
Feb 7, 2026
Probabl should exclude supernovae and similar as well then. SN 1054 reached magnitude -3 meaning it was visible during the day.
ketchupkawawa
+1
Level 50
Aug 21, 2017
Ugh, I swear I typed in Aldebaran! 21/22. I'm seeing that Antares has a maximum magnitude of 0.6, though
sawmos
+2
Level 51
Aug 21, 2017
Would comets such as Halley's be acceptable or no?
kitshef
+2
Level 88
Aug 21, 2017
Definitely some more guidance needed here. I realize you can't do anything about long-period comets, but Halley's should be on there. And many of the meteor showers (e.g. Perseids) reach negative magnitudes regularly.
geographyisthebestsubject
+1
Level 66
Aug 22, 2017
I love this quiz! Creative...
APHill
+4
Level 76
Jul 18, 2019
The fact that only half of the (reasonably knowledgeable) people on this site know the brightest star in the night sky depresses me.
JonOfKent
+1
Level 61
Nov 24, 2020
Or, seemingly, any stars at all besides the sun
CharlieZeb
+1
Level 63
May 12, 2020
I got 12 and misspelled Arcturus (as Arcturas) so I missed that one. Good quiz.
biggyofmt
+3
Level 64
Feb 16, 2021
Thank you for accepting Beetlejuice lol
PinkButterfly256
+1
Level 43
Feb 7, 2022
thanks for the answers lol
Pyzzeen
+1
Level 70
Apr 11, 2023
Fun fact, there are three objects in the sky that can cast a shadow on Earth; The Sun, The Moon and Venus.
LennyTheGiant
+1
Level 51
Apr 17, 2023
How does the sun cast a shadow?
partdavid
+2
Level 74
Jul 20, 2023
Read it "Fun fact, there are three objects in the sky [whose light is bright enough to] cast a [visible] shadow on Earth: ..."
Neodymium
+1
Level 63
Oct 17, 2024
the confusion is acceptable, was confusing
GrammarBeane1
+1
Level 83
Oct 13, 2023
I really should have gotten Alpha Centauri. What sort of Good Omens fan am I?!
kaderschaufel
+1
Level 72
Mar 11, 2024
What about the center of the Milky Way?
SometimesHim
+1
Level 66
Apr 15, 2026
That's highly likely to be a black hole lol
VincentCanQuiz
+1
Level 56
Apr 10, 2024
I did Sun Moon all the planets and just gave up
IBRK
+2
Level 77
Oct 28, 2024
Google says Antares has a maximum magnitude of 0.6 shouldn't it be added?
betseg
+2
Level 58
Feb 8, 2026
why is the quiz updated? is there a new supernova or something
nations12345eat
+1
Level 49
Feb 9, 2026
why was the ISS removed
CambodianQuizzer
+1
Level 77
Apr 8, 2026
No man made objects.
Philippelebel
+3
Level 79
Feb 13, 2026
Surprised Polaris isn't on the list. It's one of the more visible stars at night
EverettHater
+2
Level 48
Apr 14, 2026
You gotta add more spellings for beeltgeuce. Betelguice. Beatelguse
JonOfKent
+1
Level 61
Apr 14, 2026
I feel slightly cheated that the ones I didn't get were Alpha crucis and Beta centauri. Especially when Antares is still missing? Any div can type "alpha this, beta that"

Perhaps someone can give them proper names please? Like Doris and Darren maybe? Who do I need to write to?

urgr
+2
Level 65
Apr 14, 2026
Acrux is the name of Alpha Crucis. Hadar is the name of Beta Centauri.
JonOfKent
+1
Level 61
Apr 15, 2026
Thank you. I like Hadar. Acrux smacks of naming by committee. I think I am going to call it Darren
strawberryaddict
+2
Level 60
Apr 14, 2026
no antares or spica?
Cyclonus
+1
Level 88
Apr 19, 2026
Got all the objects in the Solar system through basic knowledge. The rest that I was able to get were mostly from watching Star Trek. :-)
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