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Angular distance between stars

The formula for calculating the angular distance d between two objects is

cos d = cos δ1 cos δ2 cos (α2 − α1) + sin δ1 sin δ2

where α1 and α2 are the right ascensions and δ1 and δ2 are the declinations of the objects.

Below are angular distances in degrees. J2015.5 means that the distances are for the middle of the year 2015. The distances change slowly due to the stars' proper motions (motion in space relative to the Solar System). They are independent of the precession. Precession is the phenomenon of Earth's axis of rotation tracing out the surface of a cone during 25 800 years.

The distance from Castor to Pollux is, to the nearest minute of arc, 4°30′. To the nearest second of arc, it is 4°30′18″.

The Winter Triangle is nearly an equilateral triangle. Moreover, the Summer Triangle is nearly an isosceles triangle, and the Great Square of Pegasus is not exactly a sqaure. The table shows how long the sides of the shapes actually are, and thus how much the shapes differ from the approximate geometric shapes.

Angular distances J2015.5

Winter Triangle  
Betelgeuse–Sirius 27.1
Sirius–Procyon 25.7
Procyon–Betelgeuse 26.0
Orion & Taurus  
Bellatrix–Aldebaran 15.8
Aldebaran–Alcyone 13.7
Betelgeuse–Rigel 18.6
Gemini & Canis Minor  
Procyon–Pollux 22.8
Castor–Pollux 4.5
Leo  
Regulus–Denebola 24.6
Ursa Major (Big Dipper) & Ursa Minor    
Dubhe–Polaris 28.7
Merak–Alkaid 25.6
Dubhe-Alkaid 25.7
Dubhe–Merak 5.4
Merak-Phad 7.9
Phad-Megrez 4.5
Megrez-Dubhe 10.2
Megrez-Alioth 5.4
Alioth-Mizar 4.4
Mizar-Alkaid 6.7
Mizar-Alcor 0.197
Mizar-Alcor = 0°11.8′
Ursa Major, Boötes & Virgo  
Alkaid–Arcturus 30.7
Arcturus–Spica 32.8
Summer Triangle  
Vega–Altair 34.2
Altair–Deneb 38.0
Deneb–Vega 23.8
Great Square of Pegasus  
Markab–Scheat 12.9
Scheat–Alpheratz 14.2
Alpheratz–Algenib 14.0
Algenib–Markab 16.5

Table of angular distances

 
Acher­nar
Acrux
Adhara
Alde­baran
Alioth
Alnair
Alni­lam
Altair
Ant­ares
Arc­turus
Bella­trix
Betel­geuse
Can­opus
Ca­pella
De­neb
El­nath
Fo­mal­haut
Ga­crux
Hadar
Mia­placi­dus
Mi­mosa
Pol­lux
Pro­cyon
Regu­lus
Rigel
Rigil Ken­taur­us
Shaula
Siri­us
Spica
Vega
 
Achernar 0.0 58.9 60.8 82.5 173.9 32.8 73.1 95.7 88.9 141.3 78.4 82.9 39.4 112.8 119.5 98.3 39.1 64.9 62.3 44.5 62.7 114.3 94.6 119.9 64.3 61.3 73.5 68.9 111.6 129.6
Acrux 58.9 0.0 60.8 117.1 119.2 66.6 94.6 107.3 53.5 85.0 102.6 100.2 45.1 137.4 144.1 122.0 85.6 6.0 11.8 19.8 4.2 106.5 86.6 79.7 90.6 15.6 51.6 73.0 53.0 125.1
Adhara 60.8 60.8 0.0 57.1 113.1 92.9 34.0 156.5 114.0 115.6 41.9 39.5 24.6 78.5 154.0 61.7 98.3 62.4 72.6 45.0 63.9 58.1 35.6 61.4 32.1 76.0 111.0 12.6 90.3 169.2
Aldebaran 82.5 117.1 57.1 0.0 93.9 106.7 23.1 125.5 170.0 130.4 15.8 21.4 73.0 30.7 97.0 16.8 93.5 119.3 128.3 98.6 120.6 45.0 46.3 80.1 26.5 131.0 155.8 46.0 133.5 117.9
Alioth 173.9 119.2 113.1 93.9 0.0 153.1 101.8 90.4 94.2 39.8 96.8 92.0 134.7 64.2 65.7 77.7 146.6 113.2 117.1 131.8 115.7 60.1 79.3 54.4 110.6 118.6 110.3 105.0 67.4 56.5
Alnair 32.8 66.6 92.9 106.7 153.1 0.0 103.9 63.6 67.6 123.0 107.7 113.5 69.5 131.7 94.2 123.4 19.8 71.8 62.5 62.9 68.5 146.4 127.4 145.0 95.1 59.2 50.3 101.7 107.2 97.8
Alnilam 73.1 94.6 34.0 23.1 101.8 103.9 0.0 145.6 148.0 127.7 8.0 9.8 52.4 47.4 120.1 29.9 97.8 96.4 106.2 77.2 97.9 42.6 31.4 68.8 8.8 109.3 141.7 23.0 116.4 139.9
Altair 95.7 107.3 156.5 125.5 90.4 63.6 145.6 0.0 60.3 81.3 140.6 146.9 132.8 115.2 38.0 128.8 59.2 108.2 96.1 117.7 105.6 143.1 165.6 140.0 141.4 91.9 56.1 162.2 97.9 34.2
Antares 88.9 53.5 114.0 170.0 94.2 67.6 148.0 60.3 0.0 56.0 155.9 152.1 97.0 158.3 91.7 167.2 82.9 51.7 42.0 71.6 50.2 136.7 130.0 99.9 143.7 39.1 17.3 125.7 45.9 71.7
Arcturus 141.3 85.0 115.6 130.4 39.8 123.0 127.7 81.3 56.0 0.0 126.8 119.8 122.0 103.0 80.9 113.7 134.1 79.4 79.6 103.1 80.9 87.5 96.8 59.7 135.3 80.2 73.1 116.3 32.8 59.1
Bellatrix 78.4 102.6 41.9 15.8 96.8 107.7 8.0 140.6 155.9 126.8 0.0 7.5 60.4 39.7 112.3 22.3 99.1 104.3 114.2 85.2 105.8 39.6 33.4 70.0 14.8 117.4 149.2 30.4 120.6 131.9
Betelgeuse 82.9 100.2 39.5 21.4 92.0 113.5 9.8 146.9 152.1 119.8 7.5 0.0 60.4 39.5 115.5 22.3 106.1 101.1 111.9 84.1 103.0 33.2 26.0 62.4 18.6 115.5 149.9 27.1 113.4 132.8
Canopus 39.4 45.1 24.6 73.0 134.7 69.5 52.4 132.8 97.0 122.0 60.4 60.4 0.0 99.7 156.5 82.3 78.5 48.9 55.6 25.6 49.1 82.7 60.1 80.5 46.7 58.0 89.5 36.2 90.2 165.9
Capella 112.8 137.4 78.5 30.7 64.2 131.7 47.4 115.2 158.3 103.0 39.7 39.5 99.7 0.0 78.2 17.5 113.9 136.4 148.7 123.4 139.2 34.2 51.1 69.6 54.2 152.9 170.6 65.8 120.1 93.3
Deneb 119.5 144.1 154.0 97.0 65.7 94.2 120.1 38.0 91.7 80.9 112.3 115.5 156.5 78.2 0.0 93.8 81.1 143.4 132.4 155.2 141.5 105.6 127.6 119.5 122.2 128.6 92.6 142.5 111.3 23.8
Elnath 98.3 122.0 61.7 16.8 77.7 123.4 29.9 128.8 167.2 113.7 22.3 22.3 82.3 17.5 93.8 0.0 109.4 122.4 133.8 106.4 124.6 30.5 39.2 67.3 36.9 137.5 171.4 49.2 121.3 110.6
Fomalhaut 39.1 85.6 98.3 93.5 146.6 19.8 97.8 59.2 82.9 134.1 99.1 106.1 78.5 113.9 81.1 109.4 0.0 91.0 82.3 78.9 87.8 138.1 127.3 159.0 89.6 79.0 66.0 103.5 125.9 91.4
Gacrux 64.9 6.0 62.4 119.3 113.2 71.8 96.4 108.2 51.7 79.4 104.3 101.1 48.9 136.4 143.4 122.4 91.0 0.0 12.4 24.5 3.4 104.0 85.3 75.1 93.2 16.8 52.1 74.1 47.1 122.5
Hadar 62.3 11.8 72.6 128.3 117.1 62.5 106.2 96.1 42.0 79.6 114.2 111.9 55.6 148.7 132.4 133.8 82.3 12.4 0.0 30.0 9.5 116.3 97.6 86.0 101.9 4.4 40.1 84.8 49.7 113.7
Miaplacidus 44.5 19.8 45.0 98.6 131.8 62.9 77.2 117.7 71.6 103.1 85.2 84.1 25.6 123.4 155.2 106.4 78.9 24.5 30.0 0.0 24.0 99.0 76.6 82.2 72.1 32.5 66.0 57.7 70.4 142.9
Mimosa 62.7 4.2 63.9 120.6 115.7 68.5 97.9 105.6 50.2 80.9 105.8 103.0 49.1 139.2 141.5 124.6 87.8 3.4 9.5 24.0 0.0 107.1 88.1 78.5 94.3 13.8 49.6 75.9 49.0 121.5
Pollux 114.3 106.5 58.1 45.0 60.1 146.4 42.6 143.1 136.7 87.5 39.6 33.2 82.7 34.2 105.6 30.5 138.1 104.0 116.3 99.0 107.1 0.0 22.8 37.0 51.4 120.7 151.0 47.1 90.9 111.3
Procyon 94.6 86.6 35.6 46.3 79.3 127.4 31.4 165.6 130.0 96.8 33.4 26.0 60.1 51.1 127.6 39.2 127.3 85.3 97.6 76.6 88.1 22.8 0.0 37.4 38.5 101.9 137.1 25.7 87.6 133.7
Regulus 119.9 79.7 61.4 80.1 54.4 145.0 68.8 140.0 99.9 59.7 70.0 62.4 80.5 69.6 119.5 67.3 159.0 75.1 86.0 82.2 78.5 37.0 37.4 0.0 75.8 90.0 114.1 57.8 54.1 109.3
Rigel 64.3 90.6 32.1 26.5 110.6 95.1 8.8 141.4 143.7 135.3 14.8 18.6 46.7 54.2 122.2 36.9 89.6 93.2 101.9 72.1 94.3 51.4 38.5 75.8 0.0 104.6 134.5 23.7 119.8 144.2
Rigil Kentaurus 61.3 15.6 76.0 131.0 118.6 59.2 109.3 91.9 39.1 80.2 117.4 115.5 58.0 152.9 128.6 137.5 79.0 16.8 4.4 32.5 13.8 120.7 101.9 90.0 104.6 0.0 36.0 88.4 51.5 110.7
Shaula 73.5 51.6 111.0 155.8 110.3 50.3 141.7 56.1 17.3 73.1 149.2 149.9 89.5 170.6 92.6 171.4 66.0 52.1 40.1 66.0 49.6 151.0 137.1 114.1 134.5 36.0 0.0 123.6 61.1 77.3
Sirius 68.9 73.0 12.6 46.0 105.0 101.7 23.0 162.2 125.7 116.3 30.4 27.1 36.2 65.8 142.5 49.2 103.5 74.1 84.8 57.7 75.9 47.1 25.7 57.8 23.7 88.4 123.6 0.0 96.2 157.9
Spica 111.6 53.0 90.3 133.5 67.4 107.2 116.4 97.9 45.9 32.8 120.6 113.4 90.2 120.1 111.3 121.3 125.9 47.1 49.7 70.4 49.0 90.9 87.6 54.1 119.8 51.5 61.1 96.2 0.0 87.8
Vega 129.6 125.1 169.2 117.9 56.5 97.8 139.9 34.2 71.7 59.1 131.9 132.8 165.9 93.3 23.8 110.6 91.4 122.5 113.7 142.9 121.5 111.3 133.7 109.3 144.2 110.7 77.3 157.9 87.8 0.0

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