The AsterNym star registry
Bellatrix
Bellatrix: the blue star of Orion
blue · Orion · γ Ori
Bellatrix 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. Bellatrix 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
Bellatrix at a glance
- Constellation
- Orion
- Other name
- γ Ori
- Catalogue number
- HIP 25336
- Distance
- ≈ 250 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.64 naked-eye
- Star type
- B2 III
- Colour
- blue
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 05h 25m 08s
- Declination
- +06° 20′ 59″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Bellatrix dedication represent?
Bellatrix 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 Bellatrix?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Bellatrix belongs to Orion.
Dedicate Bellatrix to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Bellatrix dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Bellatrix's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Bellatrix keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Bellatrix
- Is Bellatrix the brightest star?
- Bellatrix shines at magnitude 1.64 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Bellatrix?
- Bellatrix is approximately 250 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 250 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Bellatrix?
- Bellatrix is part of Orion.
- Can everyone see Bellatrix?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Bellatrix an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Bellatrix 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.