Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Barnard's Star
pale · Ophiuchus · V2500 Oph
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, Barnard's Star becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Barnard's Star at a glance
- Constellation
- Ophiuchus
- Other name
- V2500 Oph
- Catalogue number
- HIP 87937
- Distance
- ≈ 6.0 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 9.54 telescope
- Star type
- sdM4
- Colour
- pale
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 17h 57m 49s
- Declination
- +04° 40′ 06″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Barnard's Star?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Barnard's Star belongs to Ophiuchus.
Frequently asked questions about Barnard's Star
- Is Barnard's Star the brightest star?
- Barnard's Star shines at magnitude 9.54 — a binocular-and-telescope star, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Barnard's Star?
- Barnard's Star is approximately 6.0 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 6 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Barnard's Star?
- Barnard's Star is part of Ophiuchus.
- Can everyone see Barnard's Star?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Barnard's Star an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Barnard's Star 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.