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- Also called:
- Alpha Herculis
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Ras Algethi
star
Also known as: Alpha Herculis
Ras Algethi, red supergiant star, whose diameter is nearly twice that of Earth’s orbit. It lies in the constellation Hercules and is of about third magnitude, its brightness varying by about a magnitude every 128 days. It is 380 light-years from Earth. The name comes from an Arabic phrase meaning “the kneeler’s head,” referring to the Arabic name of the constellation.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
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