The AsterNym star registry
Alioth
Alioth: the white star of Ursa Major
white · Ursa Major · ε UMa
Alioth is a white star, burning hotter than our own Sun in the constellation Ursa Major, 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. Alioth 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
Alioth at a glance
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Other name
- ε UMa
- Catalogue number
- HIP 62956
- Distance
- ≈ 81 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.76 naked-eye
- Star type
- A1 III-IV
- Colour
- white
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 12h 54m 02s
- Declination
- +55° 57′ 35″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Alioth dedication represent?
Alioth 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 Ursa Major in the sky.”
Where can you see Alioth?
It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 34°S.
Alioth belongs to Ursa Major, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Alioth to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Alioth dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Alioth's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Alioth keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Alioth
- Is Alioth the brightest star?
- Alioth shines at magnitude 1.76 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Alioth?
- Alioth is approximately 81 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 81 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Alioth?
- Alioth is the brightest star in Ursa Major.
- Can everyone see Alioth?
- It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 34°S.
- Is dedicating Alioth an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Alioth 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.