The AsterNym star registry

Kang

Kang: the warm orange star of Virgo

warm orange · Virgo · κ Vir

Kang is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Virgo, 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. Kang 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

Kang at a glance

Constellation
Virgo
Other name
κ Vir
Catalogue number
HIP 69427
Distance
255 light-years
Brightness
Magnitude 4.18 naked-eye
Star type
K3III
Colour
warm orange
Best seen from
Almost everywhere on Earth
Right ascension
14h 12m 54s
Declination
−10° 16′ 25″

Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.

What could a Kang dedication represent?

Kang 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 Virgo in the sky.

Dedicate Kang

Where can you see Kang?

It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.

Kang belongs to Virgo.

Dedicate Kang to someone who matters

A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.

Your Kang dedication includes:

  • · Your chosen dedication name
  • · Your personal message
  • · Kang's real astronomical coordinates
  • · A shareable dedication page
  • · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
  • · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation

Kang keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.

Frequently asked questions about Kang

Is Kang the brightest star?
Kang shines at magnitude 4.18 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
How far away is Kang?
Kang is approximately 255 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 255 years ago.
Which constellation contains Kang?
Kang is part of Virgo.
Can everyone see Kang?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Is dedicating Kang an official astronomical renaming?
No. Kang 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.

Explore nearby stars

AsterNym dedications are personal commemorative records: they are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union, do not change scientific catalogue names, and do not confer ownership of a star.