Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Cervantes
golden · Ara · μ Ara
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, Cervantes becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Cervantes at a glance
- Constellation
- Ara
- Other name
- μ Ara
- Catalogue number
- HIP 86796
- Distance
- ≈ 51 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 5.15 naked-eye
- Star type
- G5V
- Colour
- golden
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 17h 44m 09s
- Declination
- −51° 50′ 03″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Cervantes?
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 38°N.
Cervantes belongs to Ara, where it is the brightest star.
Frequently asked questions about Cervantes
- Is Cervantes the brightest star?
- Cervantes shines at magnitude 5.15 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Cervantes?
- Cervantes is approximately 51 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 51 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Cervantes?
- Cervantes is the brightest star in Ara.
- Can everyone see Cervantes?
- 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 38°N.
- Is dedicating Cervantes an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Cervantes 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.