Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Menkar
deep red · Cetus · α Cet
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, Menkar becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Menkar at a glance
- Constellation
- Cetus
- Other name
- α Cet
- Catalogue number
- HIP 14135
- Distance
- ≈ 220 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.54 naked-eye
- Star type
- M1.5 III
- Colour
- deep red
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 03h 02m 16s
- Declination
- +04° 05′ 24″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Menkar?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Menkar belongs to Cetus.
Frequently asked questions about Menkar
- Is Menkar the brightest star?
- Menkar shines at magnitude 2.54 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Menkar?
- Menkar is approximately 220 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 220 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Menkar?
- Menkar is part of Cetus.
- Can everyone see Menkar?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Menkar an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Menkar 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.