The 25 Brightest Stars Visible in the Night Sky This ranking features the 25 stars that appear most brilliant to the unaided eye from Earth. Leading the list is Sirius, just 8.6 light-years distant, with Canopus, Alpha Centauri, and Arcturus close behind. These celestial standouts vary widely not only in apparent brightness but also in their intrinsic characteristics. Among them are red giants, supergiants, multiple-star systems, and stars at different evolutionary phases. A star's visibility depends on both its actual luminosity and its proximity to us—meaning some relatively modest stars outshine far more powerful but remote ones.