The AsterNym star registry
Alnair
Alnair: the blue-white star of Grus
blue-white · Grus · α Gru
Alnair is a blue-white star — the colour of the hottest, youngest suns in the constellation Grus, 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. Alnair 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
Alnair at a glance
- Constellation
- Grus
- Other name
- α Gru
- Catalogue number
- HIP 109268
- Distance
- ≈ 101 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.73 naked-eye
- Star type
- B6 V
- Colour
- blue-white
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 22h 08m 14s
- Declination
- −46° 57′ 40″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Alnair dedication represent?
Alnair 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 Grus in the sky.”
Where can you see Alnair?
It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 43°N.
Alnair belongs to Grus, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Alnair to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Alnair dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Alnair's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Alnair keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Alnair
- Is Alnair the brightest star?
- Alnair shines at magnitude 1.73 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Alnair?
- Alnair is approximately 101 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 101 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Alnair?
- Alnair is the brightest star in Grus.
- Can everyone see Alnair?
- It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 43°N.
- Is dedicating Alnair an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Alnair 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.