Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Ankaa
warm orange · Phoenix · α Phe
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, Ankaa becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
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.
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.
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.