The AsterNym star registry
Maenalus
Maenalus: the white star of Virgo
white · Virgo · 109 Virginis
Maenalus is a white star, burning hotter than our own Sun 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. Maenalus 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
Maenalus at a glance
- Constellation
- Virgo
- Other name
- 109 Virginis
- Catalogue number
- HIP 72220
- Distance
- ≈ 134 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 3.73 naked-eye
- Star type
- A0V
- Colour
- white
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 14h 46m 15s
- Declination
- +01° 53′ 34″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Maenalus dedication represent?
Maenalus 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.”
Where can you see Maenalus?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Maenalus belongs to Virgo.
Dedicate Maenalus to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Maenalus dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Maenalus's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Maenalus keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Maenalus
- Is Maenalus the brightest star?
- Maenalus shines at magnitude 3.73 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Maenalus?
- Maenalus is approximately 134 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 134 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Maenalus?
- Maenalus is part of Virgo.
- Can everyone see Maenalus?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Maenalus an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Maenalus 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.