Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Alkes
warm orange · Crater · α Crt
Dedicated to
Maya
by Her sister, June · August 12, 2026
“You were born on the brightest night of my life. Whenever you feel small, remember: there is a star that has carried your name since before you could read it — and it is still up there, still burning, still yours.”
This dedication
- Dedicated to
- Maya
- Dedicated by
- Her sister, June
- Recorded
- August 12, 2026
- Held until
- August 12, 2027
When this dedication ends, Alkes becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Alkes at a glance
- Constellation
- Crater
- Other name
- α Crt
- Catalogue number
- HIP 53740
- Distance
- ≈ 159 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 4.08 naked-eye
- Star type
- K1III
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 10h 59m 46s
- Declination
- −18° 17′ 56″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Alkes?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Alkes belongs to Crater, where it is the brightest star.
Frequently asked questions about Alkes
- Is Alkes the brightest star?
- Alkes shines at magnitude 4.08 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Alkes?
- Alkes is approximately 159 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 159 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Alkes?
- Alkes is the brightest star in Crater.
- Can everyone see Alkes?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Alkes an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Alkes 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.