Pollux Star Guide: Facts, Location & Observing in 2026
Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini. It’s an orange giant, it’s brighter than its “twin” star Castor, and it hosts a confirmed planet. The free Sky Tonight app can show you exactly where Pollux is from your location – and below, you’ll learn the best time to see it, how it compares to Castor, and when to observe it in 2026.
Contents
- Quick Facts About the Star Pollux
- How to Find Pollux in the Sky Tonight?
- When Is Pollux Visible in the Sky?
- Pollux Star Brightness
- Dioscuri Castor and Pollux Mythology
- Pollux Star F.A.Q.
- Pollux, the Brightest Gemini Star: Key Facts
Quick Facts About the Star Pollux
- Official names: Pollux, β Geminorum, β Gem
- Catalog designations: 78 Geminorum, HD 62509, HIP 37826, HR 2990
- Constellation: Gemini
- Star type: giant star
- Right ascension: 07h 45m 18.949s
- Declination: +28° 01' 34.316"
- Apparent magnitude: 1.14
- Mass: 1.9 solar masses
- Luminosity: 32.7 L
- Radius: 9.06 solar radius
- Surface temperature: 4,586 K
- Distance from the Earth: 34 light-years
- Rotation period: ~660 days
How to Find Pollux in the Sky Tonight?
Pollux is a giant star shining with a yellowish-orange hue. It is bright enough (mag 1.14) to be seen with the naked eye. Let’s see what can help to determine its location.
Use the Big Dipper
One way to locate Pollux is by using the Big Dipper – one of the most recognizable star patterns in the sky. Draw a line across the Dipper’s bowl, from the star Megrez (that’s where the Dipper’s “bowl” and “handle” meet) through the star Merak (it’s at the Dipper’s bottom, diagonally from Megrez), and follow it until you see the two stars shining close together. That will be Pollux and its “twin star” Castor.
Use Orion’s Stars
The other way to find Pollux is to use Orion’s stars as a guide. All you have to do is find Rigel and Alnitak (bright stars in Orion), draw a line through them, and extend it to the north.
To boost your star-finding skills, pass our quiz and train to locate the brightest stars in the sky with the help of other stars and constellations!
Use the Stargazing Apps
Yet another way to find Pollux is to use a stargazing app, like Sky Tonight. This app lets you check the star's location with just a few taps. Look at the image below or follow the video guide and see for yourself how easy it is!
You can also combine the two methods: first, try to find Pollux with the Big Dipper or Orion’s stars, and then make sure you’re right with Sky Tonight.
When Is Pollux Visible in the Sky?
As a part of the zodiac constellation Gemini, Pollux can only be visible in the night sky during certain months. The best time to see the star is from December through March in most parts of the world. Keep in mind that from June 21 to July 20, Gemini hosts the Sun, so Pollux is in the sky during the daytime.
Pollux Upcoming Events: When to See the Star Next to the Moon and Planets in 2026
Pollux lies close to the ecliptic, so the Moon and planets pass nearby from time to time. Below is the list of celestial events featuring Pollux. You can also check the “Events” tab in the Sky Tonight calendar: there you’ll find useful details about upcoming sky events.
July 14: Moon near Pollux
- Close approach time: 11:52 GMT (07:52 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 3°35'
- Conjunction time: 13:20 GMT (09:20 AM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 3°42'
On July 14, the New Moon will pass near Pollux in the constellation Gemini. Unfortunately, the event won’t be observable, as it will take place too close to the Sun. As a zodiac constellation, Gemini hosts the Sun from about June 21 to July 20, which is why it is unobservable during this period. Read our dedicated article on the constellation Gemini to learn when the Twins are best visible and what other celestial objects — besides Pollux — you can find there.
August 10: Moon near Pollux
- Close approach time: 21:45 GMT (05:45 PM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 3°33'
- Conjunction time: 23:14 GMT (07:14 PM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 3°40'
On August 10-11, head outside before sunrise and look toward the eastern horizon. A very thin crescent Moon will appear close to Pollux (mag 1.1) in the constellation Gemini; under good conditions, both should be visible to the naked eye, though you’ll need a clear, unobstructed horizon to catch them.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Altitude, Moon / Pollux |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, United States | Aug 11, 5:25 AM EDT | 8°00′ | 10.1° / 18.1° |
| London, United Kingdom | Aug 11, 4:45 AM BST | 5°07′ | 10.1° / 15.2° |
| Toronto, Canada | Aug 11, 5:41 AM EDT | 8°09′ | 10.1° / 18.2° |
| Mexico City, Mexico | Aug 10, 5:52 AM CST | 7°02′ | 24.6° / 18.4° |
| São Paulo, Brazil | Aug 10, 6:12 AM BRT | 8°29′ | 15.6° / 7.8° |
| Sydney, Australia | Aug 11, 6:12 AM AEST | 3°41′ | 7.5° / 4.0° |
And don’t stop there: Mercury, shining at about mag -0.8, and Jupiter, at around mag -1.8, will be hanging lower than Mercury above the horizon. Look along the Sun’s imaginary path across the sky, and you’ll find more planets waiting there: Mars (mag 1.3), higher above the horizon, and Saturn (mag 0.6), farther along the same arc. You can see both with the naked eye. Think of it as a warm-up for the coming planetary parade — read our planetary alignments guide to learn when the sky will gather even more planets at once.
September 7: Moon near Pollux
- Close approach time: 05:38 GMT (01:38 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 3°33′
- Conjunction time: 07:11 GMT (03:11 AM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 3°41'
On September 7, the thin waning crescent Moon will appear close to Pollux (mag 1.2) in the constellation Gemini — a beautiful naked-eye pairing. Look for them late at night. And there’s more: reddish Mars (mag 1.3) will shine nearby, completing the scene. It’s a perfect opportunity to capture a striking astronomy photo!
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Altitude, Moon / Pollux |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, United States | Sep 7, 3:12 AM EDT | 4.4° | 10° / 13° |
| London, United Kingdom | Sep 7, 5:48 AM BST | 4.0° | 39° / 41° |
| Toronto, Canada | Sep 7, 3:28 AM EDT | 4.5° | 10° / 14° |
| Mexico City | Sep 7, 3:39 AM CST | 4.9° | 10° / 14° |
| Sao Paulo | Sep 7, 4:34 AM BRT | 3.4° | 11° / 10° |
| Sydney | Sep 7, 5:41 AM AEST | 6.2° | 20° / 15° |
September 17-19: Mars near Pollux
- Close approach time: September 17, 15:40 GMT (11:40 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 5°53′
- Conjunction time: September 19, 03:55 GMT (September 18, 11:55 PM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 5°59′
On September 17–19, Mars (mag 1.2) will pass close to Pollux in Gemini. You’ll be able to spot them with the naked eye after local midnight. The pairing is especially eye-catching because of their warm colors: Pollux shines yellow-orange, while Mars has a distinctly reddish glow.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Altitude, Mars / Pollux |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, US | Sep 17, 06:11 EDT | 5°54′ | 51.2° / 53.7° |
| Mexico City, Mexico | Sep 17, 06:02 CST | 5°54′ | 54.6° / 53.5° |
| London, UK | Sep 17, 06:04 BST | 5°54′ | 45.5° / 49.3° |
| Cairo, Egypt | Sep 17, 06:16 EEST | 5°54′ | 54.2° / 54.8° |
| Tokyo, Japan | Sep 17, 04:59 JST | 5°55′ | 52.8° / 54.1° |
| Sydney, Australia | Sep 17, 05:27 AEST | 5°55′ | 24.0° / 18.5° |
| São Paulo, Brazil | Sep 17, 05:38 BRT | 5°54′ | 32.2° / 27.0° |
Pollux Star Brightness
Pollux has an apparent magnitude of 1.14, making it bright and easy to see with the naked eye. It is the brightest star in Gemini, which may seem surprising because it is designated Beta Geminorum.
Brightest Star in Gemini, Yet not an Alpha
While studying the stars, you probably noticed that the brightest star in a constellation is usually designated by the Greek letter Alpha. However, in Gemini, the Alpha star is Castor, while Pollux is Beta. This naming system was created by the German astronomer Johann Bayer in 1603. In this system, the stars within a constellation appear to be listed from brightest to dimmest. But back then, astronomers couldn't accurately measure the brightness of stars, so Bayer sorted them by magnitude class (first-magnitude, second-magnitude, etc.). Within each class, the stars were not necessarily arranged by brightness. Also, Bayer sometimes assigned letters to stars based on their position within a constellation, their order of rising, or historical or mythological reasons.
Pollux vs Castor: Which “Twin” Star Is Brighter?
Pollux and Castor are known as the “twin” stars of Gemini, but they are not equally bright. Pollux is the brighter of the two, with an apparent visual magnitude of 1.14, while Castor’s apparent magnitude is 1.58. Since the magnitude scale works backward – the lower the number, the brighter the object – Pollux outshines Castor in the night sky. In fact, this difference means Pollux appears about 1.5 times brighter than Castor.
The difference is still subtle, but under clear skies you can notice it. Pollux also looks warmer, with a yellow-orange hue. Castor appears slightly fainter and bluish-white.
Dioscuri Castor and Pollux Mythology
In Greek mythology, Pollux, also known as Polydeuces, and his twin brother Castor were sons of the Spartan queen Leda. Castor was the mortal son of King Tyndareus, while Pollux was the immortal son of Zeus. The twins were inseparable, and when Castor died, Pollux asked Zeus that the two should share immortality, so Zeus placed them both in the sky as the constellation Gemini. Because of the myth, Castor and Pollux are often referred to as the “twin stars”, although the stars are not related.
Pollux Star F.A.Q.
What type of star is Pollux?
Pollux is an orange giant star of the spectral type K0 IIIb. It is an evolved star that has depleted most of its core hydrogen and is now in a late stage of stellar evolution, likely burning hydrogen in a shell around its core and may be fusing helium in its core. The “III” in its spectral type means Pollux is a giant star, while the “b” indicates that it is less luminous than average stars in this class.
To learn how stars change over time and why their appearance depends on their life stage, check out our infographic on the stellar life cycle.
What color is Pollux?
Pollux has a yellow-orange color, though its exact hue can vary depending on your eyes' sensitivity and sky conditions. It is classified as a K0 IIIb star – an orange giant, slightly cooler than the Sun, that has exhausted the hydrogen in its core. Its warm color also makes Pollux easy to distinguish from its “twin” star, Castor, which shines bluish-white.
What constellation is Pollux a part of?
Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini. Together with Castor, its "twin" star, they represent the heads of the celestial brothers.
How far is Pollux from Earth?
The star Pollux is located about 34 light-years from Earth, making it the closest giant star to our Solar System. To better understand what a light-year means, check out our infographic on measuring distances in space.
Who are Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology?
Castor and Pollux are the mythological twins known as the Dioscuri. In Greek mythology, they were the sons of Leda: Pollux was the immortal son of Zeus, while Castor was the mortal son of King Tyndareus of Sparta.
Does Pollux have a planet?
Pollux is known to host a planet in its orbit called Pollux b, or Thestias. This gas giant exoplanet was discovered in 2006. It orbits its parent star at a distance similar to that of Mars from our Sun.
Pollux, the Brightest Gemini Star: Key Facts
Pollux is the brightest star in Gemini and Castor’s famous “twin.” The star shines with a yellow-orange color and is easy to observe with the naked eye if you know where to look. To find Pollux in your sky right now, open the free Sky Tonight app and search for the star by name – the app will show its exact position for your location. Add Pollux to your observation list, then keep exploring with our infographic on 15 easy-to-find stars!
