== Star Distance and Magnitude == 

 Hello Kwami, 

 I am an amateur astronomer trying to do a simple thing: determine the distance and magnitude of stars. 

 The problem is: the figures for distance (LY) and magnitude (VIS) on the Wiki tables for constellations often, too often, differ with the figures for same on the wiki links for the individual stars. 

 For example Jim Kaler publishes the distance to Beta Herculis as 148 light years, which agrees with the 'list of stars' distances published under the constellation maps in Wikipedia: 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stars_in_Hercules 

 However, when we click on the Wiki link for individual stars in the list, e.g.: 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Herculis 

 The page for the individual star reports a significantly different distance to the star (139 on 'star' page versus 148 on 'list of stars' page). 

 Which distance is correct? 

 Is there a source that has the latest most accurate distances to stars?  (e.g. Hubble parallax) 

 Thank you for your assistance. 

 Mark