Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Bootes and the 4th brightest star in Earth's night sky. Residing at 36.7 light years distant, Arcturus has about 1.08 solar masses (1 solar mass = Sun) and has entered the red giant stage of its life at an estimated age of 8 billion years. Arcturus is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere summertime night sky. -Scott