The AsterNym star registry
Ankaa
Ankaa: the warm orange star of Phoenix
warm orange · Phoenix · α Phe
Ankaa is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Phoenix, 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. Ankaa 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
Ankaa at a glance
- Constellation
- Phoenix
- Other name
- α Phe
- Catalogue number
- HIP 2081
- Distance
- ≈ 82 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.40 naked-eye
- Star type
- K0 III
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 00h 26m 17s
- Declination
- −42° 18′ 22″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Ankaa dedication represent?
Ankaa 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 Phoenix in the sky.”
Where can you see Ankaa?
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 48°N.
Ankaa belongs to Phoenix, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Ankaa to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Ankaa dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Ankaa's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Ankaa keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Ankaa
- Is Ankaa the brightest star?
- Ankaa shines at magnitude 2.40 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Ankaa?
- Ankaa is approximately 82 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 82 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Ankaa?
- Ankaa is the brightest star in Phoenix.
- Can everyone see Ankaa?
- 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 48°N.
- Is dedicating Ankaa an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Ankaa 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.