The AsterNym star registry
Alnilam
Alnilam: the blue star of Orion
blue · Orion · ε Ori
Alnilam is a blue star in the constellation Orion, 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. Alnilam 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
Alnilam at a glance
- Constellation
- Orion
- Other name
- ε Ori
- Catalogue number
- HIP 26311
- Distance
- ≈ 2,000 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.69 naked-eye
- Star type
- B0 Ia
- Colour
- blue
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 05h 36m 13s
- Declination
- −01° 12′ 07″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Alnilam dedication represent?
Alnilam 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 Orion in the sky.”
Where can you see Alnilam?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Alnilam belongs to Orion.
Dedicate Alnilam to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Alnilam dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Alnilam's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Alnilam keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Alnilam
- Is Alnilam the brightest star?
- Alnilam shines at magnitude 1.69 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Alnilam?
- Alnilam is approximately 2,000 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 2,000 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Alnilam?
- Alnilam is part of Orion.
- Can everyone see Alnilam?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Alnilam an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Alnilam 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.