Rigel A is classified as a blue-white [[supergiant]] of spectral class B8 Iab. The star contains some 17 times the mass of our [[Sun]]. While the radius of Rigel is estimated to be 74 times that of the Sun, so large, that is Rigel was at the center of our solar system, it would extend to the orbit of [[Mercury]].<ref name="illinois">http://www.astro.illinois.edu/~jkaler/sow/rigel.html</ref> The star has 40,000 times the Sun's visual luminosity.<ref name="illinois">http://www.astro.illinois.edu/~jkaler/sow/rigel.html</ref> Much of Rigel's radiation however, is in the [[ultraviolet]], when this is accounted for, the star's total luminosity is 150,000 times of the Sun's.<ref name="star">http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/star_worldbook.html</ref>
Like other stars of its category, Rigel burns through its core [[hydrogen]] very quickly. It is estimated that the star is only some 10 million years old. Despite its very young age, Rigel will soon burn through its hydrogen fuel in the core, if it hasn't already done so, and will eventually expand to become a red [[supergiant]]. Given Rigel's mass, it will most likely end its life in a [[supernova]] explosion. If Rigel does go supernova, it will appear as bright as a quarter [[moon]].
===Rigel B===