25 Common Beliefs That Are Totally Wrong

The brightest star in the sky is Polaris.

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Polaris and Sirius Polaris, or the North Star, is renowned for guiding travelers with its steady position pointing north. Yet, it’s not the brightest star in the sky. That honor goes to Sirius, the Dog Star, in the constellation Canis Major. Sirius outshines all others due to its closeness to Earth and raw brightness. It’s 25 times more luminous than the Sun and just 8.6 light-years away. Polaris, at 323 light-years, is bright but can’t match Sirius in dazzle.

The mix-up likely comes from Polaris’s key role in navigation, making it seem more prominent. Clearing up brightness versus importance shows why Sirius, not Polaris, reigns as the sky’s brightest gem.