<p>The newest version of Stellarium, as well as the former ones, tell that Betelgeuse would be 497.95 ly plus/minus 56 ly away. Celestia also lists Betelgeuse ~500 ly away, but Celestia is comparably old. Isn't it a proven fact that Betelgeuse is about 640 ly away? Why is Stellarium so imprecise?</p>
<p>Rob Jeffries' comment below and <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/36765/whats-the-correct-distance-to-betelgeuse">this link</a> answer my question well, rather than the link provided above.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T11:50:33.113Z
The distance to Betelgeuse is uncertain. Celestia and Stellarium do not calculate or measure distances, they simply use catalogues with all the limitations that are inherent to those catalogues.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T11:55:53.857Z
@antispinwards It makes clear how imprecise the determination of Betelgeuse's distance is, but still the 640 ly value is presumed the most correct one while no mention of the 500 ly value. Mr. Jeffries answers my question in a better way.
Ioannes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T12:39:36.033Z
@antispinwards Because that's what the link and most sources tell.
Ioannes
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T13:24:23.960Z
If you know facts that prove the exact distance to Betelgeuse: can you please give a reference? Did you compare it to Stellarium's? Stellarium's documentation lists its source(s).
planetmaker
<observational-astronomy><betelgeuse>
Why does Stellarium tell such imprecise distance for Betelgeuse?
Ioannes
# Why does Stellarium tell such imprecise distance for Betelgeuse?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-05)

The newest version of Stellarium, as well as the former ones, tell that Betelgeuse would be 497.95 ly plus/minus 56 ly away. Celestia also lists Betelgeuse ~500 ly away, but Celestia is comparably old. Isn't it a proven fact that Betelgeuse is about 640 ly away? Why is Stellarium so imprecise?

Rob Jeffries' comment below and [this link](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/36765/whats-the-correct-distance-to-betelgeuse) answer my question well, rather than the link provided above.

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, betelgeuse

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The distance to Betelgeuse is uncertain. Celestia and Stellarium do not calculate or measure distances, they simply use catalogues with all the limitations that are inherent to those catalogues.  
> **username_0**: @antispinwards It makes clear how imprecise the determination of Betelgeuse's distance is, but still the 640 ly value is presumed the most correct one while no mention of the 500 ly value. Mr. Jeffries answers my question in a better way.  
> **username_0**: @antispinwards Because that's what the link and most sources tell.  
> **username_2**: If you know facts that prove the exact distance to Betelgeuse: can you please give a reference? Did you compare it to Stellarium's? Stellarium's documentation lists its source(s).  

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