The AsterNym star registry

Aldhibah

Aldhibah: the blue-white star of Draco

blue-white · Draco · ζ Dra

Aldhibah is a blue-white star — the colour of the hottest, youngest suns in the constellation Draco, one of the few thousand stars bright enough to carry an officially recognised name. On a dark, clear night you can find it with your own eyes.

Most stars in the sky are anonymous points of light. Aldhibah is not — it has held a name across generations of sky-watchers, which makes it a rare thing to attach a name of your own to.

Real star · Personal dedication · Recorded in the AsterNym registry

See what a dedicated page looks like — preview

Aldhibah at a glance

Constellation
Draco
Other name
ζ Dra
Catalogue number
HIP 83895
Distance
328 light-years
Brightness
Magnitude 3.17 naked-eye
Star type
B6III
Colour
blue-white
Best seen from
The far northern sky
Right ascension
17h 08m 47s
Declination
+65° 42′ 53″

Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.

What could a Aldhibah dedication represent?

Aldhibah is especially meaningful for someone who:

  • · Deserves something older than any gift shop
  • · Marks a beginning, an anniversary or a promise
  • · Is remembered every time you look up
  • · Has a light you want recorded somewhere permanent

Dedication idea

For the one I think of when I find Draco in the sky.

Dedicate Aldhibah

Where can you see Aldhibah?

It is a deep-northern star: easy from Europe, North America and northern Asia, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 24°S.

Aldhibah belongs to Draco.

Dedicate Aldhibah to someone who matters

A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.

Your Aldhibah dedication includes:

  • · Your chosen dedication name
  • · Your personal message
  • · Aldhibah's real astronomical coordinates
  • · A shareable dedication page
  • · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
  • · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation

Aldhibah keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.

Frequently asked questions about Aldhibah

Is Aldhibah the brightest star?
Aldhibah shines at magnitude 3.17 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
How far away is Aldhibah?
Aldhibah is approximately 328 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 328 years ago.
Which constellation contains Aldhibah?
Aldhibah is part of Draco.
Can everyone see Aldhibah?
It is a deep-northern star: easy from Europe, North America and northern Asia, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 24°S.
Is dedicating Aldhibah an official astronomical renaming?
No. Aldhibah keeps its internationally recognised astronomical name. An AsterNym dedication records your personal name and message in the AsterNym registry without changing the star's scientific identity.

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AsterNym dedications are personal commemorative records: they are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union, do not change scientific catalogue names, and do not confer ownership of a star.