The AsterNym star registry
Alruba
Alruba: the white star of Draco
white · Draco · HR 6618
Alruba is a white star, burning hotter than our own Sun 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. Alruba 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
Alruba at a glance
- Constellation
- Draco
- Other name
- HR 6618
- Catalogue number
- HIP 86782
- Distance
- ≈ 533 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 5.75 naked-eye
- Star type
- A2V
- Colour
- white
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 17h 43m 59s
- Declination
- +53° 48′ 06″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Alruba dedication represent?
Alruba 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.”
Where can you see Alruba?
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 36°S.
Alruba belongs to Draco.
Dedicate Alruba to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Alruba dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Alruba's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Alruba keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Alruba
- Is Alruba the brightest star?
- Alruba shines at magnitude 5.75 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Alruba?
- Alruba is approximately 533 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 533 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Alruba?
- Alruba is part of Draco.
- Can everyone see Alruba?
- 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 36°S.
- Is dedicating Alruba an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Alruba 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.